Whether you’re currently remodelling your home, deciding on a new fireplace or redesigning an existing fireplace, it’s important to understand the ideal size of a fireplace hearth and its purpose.
First, to quickly answer the question regarding hearth size, if your fireplace opening is less than 6ft² then your hearth should be 128ft². If the opening is more than 6ft², your hearth should be 240 ft².
Regardless of the overall size, the thickness of your hearth should also be at least 4.7 inches.
Now, let’s discuss the specifics of a fireplace hearth.
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What is the Size of a Fireplace Hearth?
Put simply, the size of a fireplace will determine the size of a fireplace hearth. The first step in finding out how big your hearth should be is to measure the area of your fireplace opening. This is the space that contains the fire when lit.
If this area is less than 6ft², the hearth should extend 16 inches in front of the opening and 8 inches on either side.
But, if the area is more than 6ft², the hearth should extend 20 inches in front and 12 inches on either side of the hearth.
The size is directly linked to fireplace opening size because this will generally determine the size and strength of the fire within. Larger more powerful fires will be built within larger fireplaces, and as a result a bigger hearth will be required to ensure any falling hot coals, burning logs or embers will be caught safely.
What is a Fireplace Hearth?
Before we can delve deeper into the size of a fireplace hearth, it’s helpful to first acknowledge what we mean by the term “hearth”. To put it bluntly, a hearth is a fireplace floor.
But, unlike regular floors, a hearth extends outside the fireplace and into the room.
You may have already figured out that a fireplace floor is fireproof. So, having one that extends into the room means that even if some embers spit out during your roaring fire, it won’t become a fire hazard.
All that will happen is the embers will land on the fireproof hearth and quickly cool off.
How Thick Should a Fireplace Hearth be?
As well as size, the thickness can also be critical. Typically, a hearth won’t hold the same heat resistance if the hearth is too thin and consequently, the chances of embers burning through will increase. This can create a fire hazard, and can also result in cracks, chips or general damage to the hearth over a long period of time.
With this in mind, every hearth should be at least 4.7 inches thick. If it’s thinner than this, it might not withstand the heat expected from a normal fire.
Remember however that this is a general rule of thumb, and the ideal thickness of the hearth will also be determined by the thickness and material of the floor it sits on.
If the floor is combustible (for example, if it’s made of wood), the hearth alone should be at least 9.8 inches thick. If the floor isn’t combustible (for example, if it’s tiled or cement-based), then this thickness can decrease again.
What if your Fireplace Hearth is the Wrong Size?
Why does any of this matter? Who cares if a hearth is too big or too small?
If the hearth is too small, embers that spit out the fire can jump over the hearth and land on other objects in the room. This might include flammable materials, clothing, electronics or people, including curious children…
On the flip side, having an unnecessarily large hearth will reduce the available floorspace within your home and generally prove a lot more expensive (as hearths are normally made with heavyweight, expensive materials).
Why You Should have a Fireplace Hearth
The principal reason fireplace owners will have a fireplace hearth installed is for added safety within the home.
Having a designated area for embers to spit onto creates a safe distance between you and the fire, and also serves as a reminder to everyone that no flammable materials should be left within that area.
Hearths also provide a unique interior design feature, unlikely to be found elsewhere within a home, and can be used to create both traditional and modern set pieces in a room.
Common Fireplace Hearth Materials
Not all fireplace hearths are the same but there are common materials used worldwide.
The most important characteristic of any hearth material is that it needs to be fireproof. If hot embers fall out of the fireplace, there must be a 0% chance of fire damage.
Most fireplace hearths are made of slabs rather than large blocks. This is because the same area of any material is almost always more robust when that area is made of smaller units rather than one solid block.
Here are some of the more common hearth materials that you might see.
Granite
Popular in modern homes. It has a sophisticated and slightly minimalistic look. It’s also more affordable than some other options.
Slate
Perfect for people who want a rustic look in their home. It can scratch easily but the upside is that it’s easy to clean if you find it covered with dust or ash.
Marble
Marble is a material of the ages. Used by everyone from the Romans to modern-day celebrities. It can be expensive, but if you’re willing to pay the price then you’ll receive an easy to clean, long-lasting, and heat resistant material, making it perfect for a hearth.
Stone
“Stone” is a very generic term. There are probably millions of kinds of stones on the planet and some are more or less useful within a hearth design.
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We hope this helps, for everything else home heating stick with CosyWarmer.com