Fireplace Hearth

[getcarter]

Hello....I've just had two fireplaces installed. One is gas and the other a real (solid fuel) fire. I believe the hearth for the solid fuel firepalce has to be made from a more substantial (solid??) material to withstand the heat a real fire can put out!

My question is about the cementing of the hearth's to the floor . The fitter has used a fair bit of cement thus raising the hearth about an extra 1/2" or more (not so much on the gas fire) I'm assuming it has to be fire resistant cement and was wondering if this made a difference? I was also wondering if more has had to be used as its a heavier hearth. I'm also aware of the fact of getting the hearth level.

I guess I am trying to find out if this amount of cement is acceptable and necessary or whether the fitters been slap dash about things. Have to say apart from that it is a good job (well I won't mention the poor job of reapplying the skirting!!!!!!) but as I have original floorboards (Its a Victorian property) it is noticable, which it probably wouldn't be if I had fitted carpets which isn't a road I won't to go daown!!

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[thiambal]

I think the building regs require 6 inches of non-combustible material below a fire and protruding out for 15 inches (I think) from the front of the fire and raised 2 inches (i think) above the floor.

Victorian houses were generally built with a constructional hearth built into the floor, level with the floorboards. Depending on how posh your house was your fire was either placed directly on this or a decorative hearth was added on top (this is generally sloped gently backwards towards the fire or has a lip on it to help prevent embers rolling off onto the floor.

In our house, our fires are built directly onto the contructional hearth which do not meet the current building regs but hey, nor does anything else i the house. We were advised (perhaps wrongly) that where we were reinstated a fire and the contructional hearth still existed we could use that and not worry about upgrading it. If we were re-instating the whole lot we would need to meet current regs.

As for what type of cement - pass

I have added a link to the building regs - where are pretty inpentrable but should help

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADJ_2002.pdf