Your Hearth?

chickenista · #1 11/09/07, 05:52 PM

I posted pics of us tearing out a wall today in CF and mentioned building a hearth.
Moopups said the creekstone would explode... that got us thinking quick.
How about if we sank them into portland cement or concrete..the plan.. anyway to keep them from popping? How did you do yours? How would you do ours? Suggestions please. We have always used existing hearths or just boosted the woodstove far enough off the floor that it didn't matter....

Beeman · #2 11/09/07, 06:16 PM

My other house had a raised hearth that was rock, no exploding rocks though.
My new almost finished hearth is a raised hearth framed with 2x6 for the base covered with plywood and then hardieboard. Walls are framed with metal studs 2x4 covered with hardieboard. Then all of it was covered with rock and type S mortar.

**Terri** · #3 11/09/07, 06:22 PM

Think about tiny, hairline fractures in the rock. Think about water getting into those cracks because it was in the creek. This DOES happen: thnk of a geode!

Now think about that water turning to steam in the heat of a fire and expanding. BANG!

Now, I THINK that you could probably test your rocks by throwing them into a bonfire and leaving. (I am guessing, here!)