Hearth dilemma

[Headfirst]

The workmen are due to start work to strengthen our bouncy bowing floors next week. They have asked us to decide what we would like to do in terms of the fireplace hearth before work starts as it might affect the way they finish off the floor.

Currently there is a tiled hearth however the tiles are badly cracked and scratched and, while we intend to leave them in situ, in my opinion they don't really add any aestetic value to the room.

I would ideally like some sort of raised hearth in a material that gives a smooth grey/black matt finish. The fireplace will be decorative only so suitability for different types of fire isn't important. I assumed that we would be able to buy a heart that would somehow slot into the fireplace over the exisiting tiles but I've been told that the shape of the space may be too intricate for a large piece of *some material* to be shaped to fit. Tiling over has been suggested as an alternative but i'm not sure how this would work. We are in a first floor flat and thick soundproofing boards have to be laid over out floorboards. We are laying wood flooring over these boards. Would it be possible to just fix tiles on top of the woodfloor?

Any ideas would be most appreciated. Apologies for the terrible quality photograph (if it's uploaded properly)

Thanks.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Personally I think it is a shame to cover over the tiles and floor - I think they do add considerable "aesthetic value" to the room. The room looks very handsome from your pic.

Is there a structural reason for putting additional boards and then wood (laminate?) flooring in? Bowed and bouncy floors are one of the joys of a traditional property, in my book. Thick rugs can add to the soundproofing without losing original features. I think cleaned up and waxed your floorboards could look wonderful. Joce and (I think) Feltwell can show you pics of what can be achieved.

If you do proceed as indicated, please don't destroy the original fabric (eg by tiling over the tiles) - that way someone who has the property after you can reveal the original fabric undamaged.

Good luck in whatever you decide. There are many folk on here who will be happy to advise on a whole range of period property issues.

 

[Headfirst]

Thanks for the reply. We would never do anything to damage the tiles (more than they already are).

The three storey building that the flat is part of was converted firstly into bedsits and then into three flats about 12 years ago. The builders that did the work did a pretty poor job and none of the floorboards are original. We are also having a signifiant portion of the floor treated for dry rot so these areas need to be replaced. We wouldn't bother with the soundproofing boards if there wasn't a flat underneath us but it will be necessary under the circumstances (and to comply with building regs).

I'm just looking for the best solution really. I don't know where to look to find out whether a hearth could be cut to specifically fit the fireplace or where tiles would be best laid to create a hearth effect if this was easier.

 

[LadyArowana]

I agree with Robin that it seems a shame to cover the tiles, even if they are slightly damaged. I wonder if it would be possible to do some sort of cosmetic repair to the tiles to make them look slightly better and then overlay them with a sheet of floor specification glass edged with brass, so that they are viewed as a part of the original house that has been specifically preserved.

 

[Pford75]

I agree with the comments from others on the tiles - I happen to think they look lovely and I'm sure you'd regret it if they went. Not only are they pretty, but a raised hearth will effectively reduce the usable floor space in the room, whilst a flush fitted hearth can be easily walked over (especially given that the fireplace is decorative only)

 

[AMc]

If you're determined to cover the tiles then I would contact monumental masons and/or kitchen worktop fitters and/or decorative stone work suppliers to get a slab of granite/sandstone etc.
The guys who fitted my granite kitchen worktops also do fire surrounds and hearths. I'm sure that templating that and cutting it out is within the capabilities of a decent stone supplier. If you do it right you can leave the tiles in place underneath to retain the original features but get the look you're after.

If you're not taken with stone then a piece of oak should be possible too. If you're builders aren't up to that then I would worry about them laying a wood floor.

What are your plans for the skirting boards? They look original or at least in keeping. If the floor is being raised then they will need to come off and be refixed - don't be talked into replacing them with new MDF because it's quicker for the builder to remove them without care - you'll miss them when they're gone.

 

[Penners]

By now you'll have detected a few hints that you should consider living with the tiles that you've got. But judging from your question, this isn't what you want to do.

So, in order to install some other type of cosmetic hearth without destroying these tiles, why not cover them with a sheet of 19mm ply? Judging from your photo, the tiles are flush with the floor, so you could cut the ply, say, 50 - 70mm larger on three sides than the existing hearth, lay it over the existing and screw it down to the floorboards around the edge.

You could then tile over the ply with your choice of tiles.

Alternatively, adopt the same approach, but with slabs of polished slate (or other stone) instead of the ply. These could bedded in mortar around the edge. This might be safer in the long run, just in case you or some future owner decided that the fireplace should be returned to use.

If either of the above ideas left you with a hearth that was a bit higher than the "floor" of the fireplace, you could rectify that with fire bricks or cement.

 

[Headfirst]

Thanks again for the replies. You can't see from the photo just how badly cracked and scratched the tiles are. There's hardly any colour to most of the middle ones and I think if we started trying to revive them they would mostly turn to dust. Saying that we will be leaving them be just in case some soul with more patience than us ever wants to have a go.

I think a slab of stone would be the preferred option although slabs of polished slate also sound like just what we're looking for. I've no idea how to start making a template though! Thanks to Penners for suggesting filling in any recess left at the back of the fire with firebricks or similar. I think it is likely that we'll have to do this and it won't be visable anyway.

AMc - the skirting boards are being saved.

 

[AMc]

I think a slab of stone would be the preferred option although slabs of polished slate also sound like just what we're looking for. I've no idea how to start making a template though! Thanks to Penners for suggesting filling in any recess left at the back of the fire with firebricks or similar. I think it is likely that we'll have to do this and it won't be visable anyway.

AMc - the skirting boards are being saved.

You know slate is a rock too ? - seriously, take a large piece of cardboard or newspaper and trim it to fit. I would expect a stone supplier to want to do that themselves for the final job but if you can take it along then they can see what they're up against and tell you if it will be possible to make the cuts you need and cost accurately. It will also help you to visualise the size of hearth you want and how it fits in the rest of the room.

I'm glad the skirting boards are being saved, removal can be messy and destructive so I would stress to the people doing the work that replacement is not an option to focus their minds on doing as little damage as possible to the boards and plaster.

 

[Moo]

You can minimise the damage by removing an inch or so of plaster above the skirting boards - enough to enable you to slide some sort of thin lever behind them so that they can be prised out without putting any pressure on the vulnerable top edge.
If the floor level is going to be raised, there's a chance that the replaced skirting board will cover the deplastered bit.

 

[Penners]

You can minimise the damage by removing an inch or so of plaster above the skirting boards - enough to enable you to slide some sort of thin lever behind them so that they can be prised out without putting any pressure on the vulnerable top edge.
If the floor level is going to be raised, there's a chance that the replaced skirting board will cover the deplastered bit.

And even if it doesn't, it's easy enough to patch over.

Good advice from Moo, there.

 

[Headfirst]

Right - off to the stationary shop we go then. We'd better but a few large pieces of cardboard so that we can have a practise.

I predict that my patience will be tested with this particular task! :?

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Right - off to the stationary shop we go then.

Calling Penners.... Penners?..... PENNERS?

Oh well, may as well do it myself....

Headfirst - you'd better go quickly; before it moves. :lol:

HF - this is just the humour of the site, and no offence intended!

 

[Penners]

What?

I was in a stationary shop only today. It sold stationery.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Was it stationary stationery?

 

[Feltwell]

I was in a stationary shop only today.

You mean you haven't been anywhere else at all today? Are they not going to ask you to leave at closing time?

 

[LadyArowana]

I was in a stationary shop only today.

You mean you haven't been anywhere else at all today? Are they not going to ask you to leave at closing time?

He usually goes to the mobile shop.

 

[Headfirst]

The shame! The shame!

 

[Feltwell]

Don't worry Headfirst. Everyone gets the same treatment!

 

[Penners]

Was it stationary stationery?

No. It was a breezy day.