As civilizations grew, people understood the need to build houses with walls and rooftops, fireplaces, chimneys, etc. Talking about a fireplace, its hearth has been in use for more than 300 millenniums but what is it, and why is it useful? A hearth of fireplace is used for cooking and warming the house during cold seasons.
The evolution of the hearth is seen in terms of aesthetics, but its uses remain the same, with one exception. It is no longer suitable for cooking.
You must know that a hearth and fireplace are two different things and may leave you in confusion about the necessity of hearth.
It does not matter the kind of fireplace you have it worth installing a hearth with fireplace. It has many benefits ranging from decorative to protecting your home from unwanted fires. Let us dig in further into detail; what is a fireplace hearth?
What is a Fireplace Hearth?
A fireplace hearth, as the name suggests, is a structure affixed in front of the fireplace. It is made up of non-combustible materials like marble, bricks, cement slabs, etc.
You may have burning firewood rolling about from the fireplace to your floor, with ashes flying that may cause a fire to start and spread from it, burning the house to the ground.
Therefore, if anyone asks what the use of a fireplace hearth is, inform them that it protects your home from accidental fires from your fireplace.
Different Types of Hearths
There are multiple types of hearth available for your fireplace:
Ceramic
Ceramic – a customizable choice and syncs with electric, gas, or wood-burning fireplaces. According to your house, there is an option for color, pattern, or finish to choose from.
Soapstone
It is a thick rock and is so named because of its soapy texture. One thing about it is that its color palette is not diverse since tones of green and gray are the only picks. It offers great heat resistance but can fracture with time.
Slate
Slate – a sedimentary rock found in various colors such as red, gray, dark green, and black. Its uneven texture is characteristic and may endure safely for years.
Although it is soft and can break under the heat of a fire, therefore works best with electric and gas fires.
Granite
Granite is costlier than slate or limestone but not marble or soapstone. It is suitable for gas or electric flames or even high-intensity wood fires.
Granite is the most popular choice for making fireplaces hearth since it comes in a variety of colors. It is possible to polish or smooth the granite, gloss or leave it for a natural, rough texture and look.
Limestone
Amongst all, a limestone is a cost-effective option for a fireplace hearth. However, it is limited because it only works with gas or electric fires. Why so? Because exposure to the heat of solid-fuel fires, like from wood, the stone breaks.
Marble
It is a high-value hearthstone. It is softer than granite and hearth made of limestone is prone to chips. However, it use with gas, electric, and wood fires is great because of its good heat resistance.
Marble, like granite, can be polished or left as it is for a natural appearance. These hearths come in many colors, but they are extremely high-priced hearthstones available.
Conclusion
Now that you know what a fireplace hearth is and how important its installation is, reach out to Dr Chimney for any query or installation help. We are just a call away, Contact Us.