Stone/Marble/Granite Ideas for Fireplace

Lobsterlady

Hi,
Currently looking for a material for a large hearth on which a wood burning stove would sit. The stove is a column style, brushed steel and modern in design and will be 'set back' slightly into the fireplace. Looking for something other than the stock black granite. What materials are suitable. I hear Quartz isn't. Any info would be appreciated. Plus suppliers, living in the Limerick area. Thanks.

Wolff

Why is quartz not suitable ?

Given its 4 - 5 times harder than Granite

Lobsterlady

Well i heard from someone about this, and they said that they had a woodburning stove on Quartz and the heat of the stove cracked the Quartz. Mind you, it must have been flawed if it's 4 times tougher than Granite. So Quartz is ok then?

Wolff

Id say the granite would crack sooner - make sure its thick enough - you can get 20mm or 30mm

All stone will crack if the heat is strong enough - make sure there is room for the stone to expand if there is not
sufficient room the stone would buckle - might have been waht happened to your friend

Dizzyblonde

I have granite hearths with open fires, but the granite is in sections. You can't have a hearth made from a single piece of stone if you're going to have a lot of heat on it because it will crack.
It's very important to tell the company you're buying the hearth from if you're going to have an open fire or stove.

dlambirl

+1 for Granite.

We have granite under our stove and it looks lovely.