Covring up concrete under old fireplace hearth...

[Sarah_W]

Hi,

I'm getting the floor in my sitting room sanded and am not sure what do with the lump of concrete that's where the old fireplace hearth used to be. It's been broken up and the copper pipe in the hoto is now disconnected. I think I'm looking at gettng the hole concreted up and the covering with maybe tiles.

Anyone had a similar problem snd found a good solution?

[Simpo Two]

That would seem sensible - although if I understand you correctly you'd be left with aan area of tiles in your otherwise freshly sanded wood floor, which seems a bit incongruous.

[Rollin]

Open up the fireplace?

[W66OCH]

I'd knock off the top bit of concrete and get some boards to match, than pop em in, bingo.

I'd also open up the fire as mentioned before!

[allgonepetetong]

Doesn't look like you need to knok off the top of the concrete. Why not just fill in with reclaimed floorboards which should match in colour when sanded down with thye rest of the floor.

Opening up the fireplace would be nice, but make sure you block the flue up, nasty drafts otherwise!

[grumpyscot]

You should not block up the flue completely, otherwise you will be susceptible to condensation in the flue. You should install an air-vent somewhere within the flue.

[Zeek]

Looks like they have just blocked it up and added fresh plaster

As others have said, stick some reclaimed boards over the gap...

[CO2000]

If you don't want to open it up (looks like its just been covered up) how about a wall hung fire (gas or Electric & a nice hearth slightly bigger than the hole ?

[Sarah_W]

Hey - thank for the ideas folks. To be honest, I'm looking for the cheapest option that will look okay and ideally that I can do myself so am not keen to get the fireplace opened up plus the associated work (plastering etc) whichwould still then leave me with the concrete lump.

The uys who are doing the floor suggested getting reclaimed boards but I'm notterribly keen on this as they wont match the existing ones, I may have issues with boards height, age etc, then I need to get them fitted and I'll still have a not great looking set of 4 cut boards.

The option of concreting and painting wont lok fabulous, but will be much cheaper. I agree tht tiles would be hard to get looking good withthe original wooden floor, so I'm out of ideas :-O

[Simpo Two]

Sarah_W said:

suggested getting reclaimed boards but I'm notterribly keen on this as they wont match the existing ones, I may have issues with boards height, age etc, then I need to get them fitted and I'll still have a not great looking set of 4 cut boards.

It would help a bit if you cut back some of the existing boards so that you can stagger the joins - at least then you won't get an obvious straight line. But you'd still have the issue of colour and finish.

Hell, put a rug on it!

[B17NNS]

As a cost effective solution I'd be tempted to work with what you have.

Get a pack of slate tiles and some adhesive, £20 or £30. Tile the hearth an get hold of an old fire basket or simlar from a reclaimers or ebay, fill it with some nice looking rustic logs with a couple of candles either side.

Job done and nice feature.

[Simpo Two]

A hearth with no fire would look a bit odd - and a rug is cheaper... or put a bookcase unit on it and hope the German guards don't burst in looking for escape tunnels...

[robinhood21]

Do you not have another room where the floorboards are the same but will be covered up? If so, use these to patch the floor and replace with reclaimed/new boards.

[Sarah_W]

robinhood21 said:

Do you not have another room where the floorboards are the same but will be covered up? If so, use these to patch the floor and replace with reclaimed/new boards.

Unfortunately not as hallways are laminate and kitchen and bathroom are tiled.

The carpet idea would make life easy, but I've got it in both the bedroom and sitting room and it's going to look ghastly just leaving it when I come to sell.

I was thinking about doing something with rough cut slate... perhaps concrete it so it's level then lay slate and cement in the gaps. I can't cut slate, but presume a tile shop supplying it would do so for a charge. Tis is currently looking like my best option.

[B17NNS]

Sarah_W said:

I can't cut slate

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/83636/Power-Tools/Tile-Saws/Titan-600w-Tile-Cutter?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-TILE%20SAW-_-83636

[Simpo Two]

'Course you can!

[Sarah_W]

B17NNS said:

Sarah_W said:

I can't cut slate

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/83636/Power-Tools/Tile-Saws/Titan-600w-Tile-Cutter?cm_re=SEARCHPROMO-_-TILE%20SAW-_-83636

Ah - I've got one of those. I rather naively tried using a file saw to remove shapes from ceramic tiles and ended up giving up. I had no idea it would do slate hough. Thanks!