How to Tile a Fireplace Hearth | 7 Unembellished Steps WIth Tool & Image

Are you bored with your old design fireplace hearth and want to make eye-catching changes in your living room. Then, start looking at new ideas for your hearth, such as a wood-burning stove and floor tiles. When you buy these things, you must remember one thing in your mind to keep the floor protective from heat damage. When you buy, make sure from the manufacturer, the tiles must be strong and durable enough to bear this heat effect. You can install tiles by yourself; you must know how to tile a fireplace hearth? What tools you will need, and which strategy you have to follow during Tiling a fireplace hearth.

Before starting, you must be familiar with the fireplace hearth, how it affects the floor. In simple words, we can say it as it brings gathering in a room. For centuries people gather around it. The word hearth itself dominates its surrounding area. If I say I have tile a fireplace hearth, I have to tile the mantel’s surrounding area.

Parts of Fireplace Hearth

Overtime hearth is referred to as the firebox, which can also be known as:

• Mantel 
• Hearth extension
• Chimney
• The raised area around the fireplace
• Whole fireplace

If we look back, people use it in caves for lighting purposes and save them from cold weather. After a decade, the kings started the fireplace in a firebox like a container. After that, people start making the whole fireplace in their room. This fireplace box is attached with a chimney that works as an exhaust for the fireplace.

Now it’s a technology decade, the concept of the fireplace is not much but still royal people or coldest countries people make it in their home to keep them hot. In ancient times, the floor and surrounding were getting black and too much heat up that it’s hard for people to cope with this problem. Now we bring its solution in the form of tiles that will work as a decoration and prevent heat burning.

Types of Tiles

Slate

These tiles give a rustic touch on tiles. Slate tiles are the best option for Tiling.

Marble

Marble tiles available in different designs; it’s up to you which one you choose—these tiles available in natural tone variations, monochromatic, and variegated looks.

Granite 

These tiles are the strongest and will last longer. If you want to put tiles and then want to forget it, put granite tiles because after installing these tiles, it will go for years.

Read More: How To Install Corbels Under Granite

Porceline

Porceilne tiles are available in the market in different grades. Each grade identifies its capacity to dense the heat and durability, for hearth porcelain tiles are the best denser option.

Tools you will need for Tiling a fireplace hearth:

• Good quality tiles
• Utility Knife
• Notched trowel 3/8 inch
• Mixing paddle
• Grout float
• Caulk Gun
• Damp rag
• Drill
• Hammer
• Heat resistant mortar
• Penetrating sealer
• Metal lath

How to Tile a Fireplace Hearth

Follow the below steps;

• Choosing Good Quality Tiles
• Measure your Fireplace
• Layout your Tiles
• Use an Acrylic Primer
• Begin Tiling
• Clean the Area
• Grouting

Now we will discuss in detail the steps;

Choosing Good Quality Tiles

Choosing the best tile from many tiles is a complicated process. Either you can depend on the design, or you can choose strong and durable tiles. I will tell you which tiles you can choose for your hearth. The following properties you must while buying tiles:

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• Overall color scheme: Hearth tiles need to coordinate with the overall color scheme of your house. It is the best option to choose neutral color tiles that will be effective even if you change your room’s interior.
• Style of the space: If you want a wood look in your fireplace earth, then choosing porcelain is the best option. If you choose matte with a little texture provides a rustic look. The sleek finish tiles provide more elegance in your tiles.
• Budget: Consider the budget and choose tiles that fit into your budget. Make sure labor and installation material cost.
• Consider scale: Scale plays a vital role in choosing a tile. Large tiles are best for big rooms as it provides a clean and minimal look. Large tiles are good if you install them in the middle, while small hexagonal tiles provide a contemporary look.

Measure your Fireplace

To measure the fireplace, you need to measure its height, width, length, and depth. To do this, you will need an accurate reading of each dimension of the fireplace. If you don’t do this, it will take you to insert tiles that are not fit in the fireplace. 

How to measure a fireplace opening:

1st of all, measure the cavity at different points to ensure all areas equally and there are no areas smaller than others.

• Height up and down: Measure the firebox’s height from the opening, the rear, and the lintel. If the fireplace is arched shaped, then measure the highest and lowest points for your final records.
• Width left to right: The width should be the same in all points on a square fireplace, but it can differ according to the fireplace with angled sidewalls. Similarly, if you have to measure the width, you have to measure the exterior to the fireplace wall’s interior.
• Depth front to back: You must know about the depth of the fireplace. It’s not deep, but it’s a length from the open face firewall to the firebox’s back wall.

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Layout your Tiles

It means 1st set these tiles on the floor to see all equals or needs to cut with a tile cutter, ensuring that it will fit the exact measurements of your fireplace.

Use an Acrylic Primer

After dusting, apply the acrylic primer; it will increase the adhesion between the surface and adhesive to ensure strong bonding. Let it dry. When it dries, prepare an adhesive in the bucket. Then take a pencil and mark the centerline, then mark according to front and back and the floor. Apply the adhesive material with a trowel and spread evenly using a tiller trowel to around 2-3 cm above. Use grooved edges of the tiller’s trowel to make ridges.

Begin Tiling

Now, place tiles on the adhesive wall in small patches. After placing, level it to ensure tiles are placed equally.

Read More: How To Remove Wall Tiles Without Damaging Plasterboard

Clean the Area

By using a sponge and clean water, clean the adhesive gum thoroughly. Let it dry and stick to the wall.

Grouting

Before grouting, take out the adhesive from the grout lines with a knife.

When it completely dries, prepare your grout.

• Keep grouting float at hand.
• Use the soft-float to prevent any scratch.
• It would help if you pressed grout in between the lines. 
• Start from the back and moving forward.
• Do it in a small section; before moving forward, clean the grouted area first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you tile over a fireplace hearth?

Yes, it’s very easy to tile over a fireplace hearth. For this purpose, you have to select tiles of good quality, measure the width, height, and depth of a fireplace, layout tiles, apply adhesive material, then place tiles and level it to ensure it’s equally placed. After leveling, clean the tiles, grout lines, and start grouting.

What type of tile is best for a fireplace hearth?

Porcelain tiles are best for fireplace hearth. How it’s good? It’s good denser and durable quality. These characteristics make it best for use in a fireplace hearth.

What can I use for a fireplace hearth?

Types of tiles:

• Slate: These tiles give a rustic touch on tiles. Slate tiles are the best option for Tiling.
• Marble: Marble tiles available in different designs; it’s up to you which one you choose—these tiles available in natural tone variations, monochromatic, and variegated looks.
• Granite: These tiles are the strongest and will last longer. If you want to put tiles and then want to forget it, put granite tiles because after installing these tiles, it will go for years.
• Porceline: Porceilne tiles available in the market in different grades. Each grade identifies its capacity to dense the heat and durability, for hearth porcelain tiles are the best denser option.

Can you tile a hearth?

Hearth is a surrounding area of firebox. To protect its surrounding from heat, then it’s best if you use tiles. As I mentioned above: Porcelain tiles are best for fireplace hearth. How it’s good? It’s good denser and durable quality. These characteristics make it best for use in a fireplace hearth.

How deep should a fireplace hearth be?

According to standard measurement, it must be 4 inches deep.

Conclusion

To finish this topic, Tiling a fireplace hearth is a well-known achievable task for DIYers. Before starting, you must study properly to know how to tile a fireplace hearth? This will help you throughout the procedure. You must choose good quality tiles and tools which will help you in applying the tiles. While choosing tiles, you must ensure its heat resistant. Before grouting, you must wash it and clean it to avoid any hurdles. I hope this topic will surely help you in your work.