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A Hearth is an essential component of any stove installation as it forms the non-combustible surface that protects the fabric of the building from the heat of the appliance.
Believe it or not choosing the hearth can be a headache and often proves just as difficult as deciding which stove to have. Fear not, our helpful staff at fire BY DESIGN will be able to assist you to create that perfect fireplace setting.
A hearth however, is not purely a decorative accessory. Building regulations state that the superimposed hearth must project a minimum of 150mm to the side and 225mm in front of a closed appliance. Be aware however that this rule is not exhaustive as many stove manufacturers specify their own requirements.
The boundary of a hearth must be visually apparent to provide a warning to the building occupants and to discourage combustible floor finishes from being laid too close to the appliance. One way of achieving this is to provide a change in level.
Besides their practical function hearths create an opportunity to enhance the setting of your new stove. With a vast selection of materials now available you'll be sure to find something to suit your tastes and compliment the décor of your home.
Generally speaking when choosing your hearth there are 3 simple steps:
The mind boggles these days at the vast array of natural and man-made products suitable for hearth applications.
Below is a short list of popular choices available to view in our showroom.
Once you have decided on the hearth material the choices don't stop there. For many of the natural stone products you will also need to consider the thickness (20mm, 30mm, 40mm or 50mm) and the finish - polished, fine honed, riven or antiqued.
With modern day technology hearths can be precision cut on CNC machines, to just about any size and shape imaginable. Below are images of the standard shapes we currently offer. If however you require something a little more bespoke we can work with you to design a hearth to suit your specific requirements.
Natural stone hearths are often available in various surface finishes including honed, polished or riven. Changes in the chosen textured finish of your stone can dramatically alter the overall look and feel of the fireplace.
Our supply, survey and installation service covers the following areas: Bournemouth, Christchurch, Dorchester, Poole, Romsey, Salisbury, Southampton, Wimborne and Winchester and other areas in Dorset in Hampshire. Site surveys outside a 30 mile radius of Wimborne will incure a charge a £25 which is deductable should you accept our quotation. We are also pleased to invite enquiries from further afield.