Hearth hearthache

[bajgal]

Our slate hearth was installed earlier this year and as the photos show it has cracked. Having had a nightmare build so far, which is hopefully coming to an end I wondered if I might seek your advice.Can the crack be repaired or disguised so that it is safe and doesn’t look cracked? If the hearth does need to be replaced does anyone know how we do this or who we'd use please? Thanks.

Is it a wood-burning stove? What's underneath the slate and how did it crack?

I'd get back whoever fitted it. It may be on an unstable floor. We've got a slate hearth under a woodburner but it's on a solid floor.

Thanks Millstone and Soontobe60. It is a wood burning stove. The builder, who’s now disappeared And so we haven’t been able to speak to him, had previously said that he would build up the void under the slate plinths which the main hearth sits on with some kind of adhesive.

The hearth looks small. It might be within regs but if you're carpeting up to it I'd be mindful of jumping embers when you open the door. sometimes you get a pop or a snap which throws something out.

If there's a constructional hearth underneath that decorative hearth, I'd be tempted to use dark grey tile grout to pack and fill the hole.

Whatever is underneath it... I'd be tempted to do the same If I didn't want to replace the whole lot.

Thanks Millstone, we're not having carpet which is a relief. There's no constructional hearth beneath the slate one, the builder was supposed to make this area stable to mount the slate hearth on.

The slate doesn't look very thick. I would think you will need to replace it. I also don't think it looks big enough unless it is a very small stove. Try Honister slate mine if you need to replace it. Good solid hearths available there. A friend recently made a solid slate patio and they were thicker than that.