Hearths for fireplaces

The hearth is a valuable part of any fireplace.

After all, the phrase “hearth and home” didn’t come around by coincidence. Perhaps it is the similarity to the word heart that resonates and instantly conjures thoughts of the hearth being at the centre of family life.

Whether the appliance or fire is electric, gas or solid fuel powered, and whether the hearth is there for aesthetic reasons or to ensure the fireplace complies with building regulations, the look and feel of the hearth can make all the difference to the decor of the room.

Without further ado, let’s look at some of the options when it comes to picking hearths for fireplaces.

54-inch Black Granite Hearth
54 inch black granite hearth
This is a boxed and lipped hearth set on a riser. In total this quality granite hearth is 70mm high.
Suitable for: Electric, Gas

54-inch Black Granite Hearth For Solid Fuel
54 inch black granite solid hearth
This is the solid fuel equivalent of the hearth above. Again it is boxed and lipped, but in this case it is slabbed. This is achieved by cutting the granite and rejoining it was a concrete fill. This prevents the heat created by a solid fuel fire from cracking the hearth.
Suitable for: Solid fuel

Granite Stove Hearth 33 x 24 Rectangular
33_x24_rectangular_filled_stove_hearth
This granite stove heart is designed to meet Building Regulations Document J as efficiently as possible. Those regulations require a hearth to extend 300mm in front of the stove, and it is good practice to allow at least 50mm between the rear of the stove and a non combustable wall at the rear. While you will need to check the dimensions and manufacturer-specified clearances, this hearth allows you to achieve that with many appliances.
Suitable for: Wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves

Granite Stove Hearth 36 x 36 Hex
36_x36_hexagonal_filled_stove_hearth
Slightly bigger than the rectangular version above, this hexagonal stove should be suitable for stoves up to 565mm in depth and up to 615mm wide to meet Building Regulations Document J (subject to the aforementioned checks on clearances specified by the manufacturer). This concrete-filled granite hearth is 90mm in height.
Suitable for: Wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves

Granite Stove Hearth 36 x 36 Square
36_x_36_square_filled_stove_hearth (1)
This hearth has the same dimensions as the hexagonal one above, but with the corner intact to create a square shape. It is made from 20mm thick black polished granite and is oxed and lipped on a riser. It is also filled with concrete.
Suitable for: Wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves

Granite Stove Hearth 40 x 30 Bowed
40_x_30_arched_filled_stove_hearths
Another aesthetic variation on some of the hearths above, this bow-fronted version provides a lovely curved hearth. Again, it is filled with concrete and features 20mm thick black polished granite. The total height in 90mm. This hearth may be suitable for stoves up to 400mm in depth and up to 700mm wide based on building regulations and best practice (but check the manufacturers’ clearance requirements).
Suitable for: Wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves

Riven Graphite Black Hearth Tiles
riven_tiles
If you don’t want to buy one of the pre-cut hearths for fireplaces already detailed, how about constructing your own? These 300mm x 300mm x 6mm graphite tiles come in a box of 14. The beautiful, Italian made tiles are ideal for wood-burning stove hearth construction.
Suitable for: Wood-burning stoves and multi-fuel stoves

Electric Stoves: they look like woodburners, but they’re not

Electric Stoves

A wood-burning stove is a hugely desirable item for any home.

With its eco-friendliness, cosiness and thriftiness, a woodburner can make a big difference to a property. But it’s not always possible to install one, much as you might like to.

Whether due to financial, structural or other reasons, sometimes it’s simply not feasible to install a woodburner. If you find yourself in that position, one way to at least secure some of the aesthetics and homeliness of a wood-burning stove is to get an electric stove instead.

No, it’s not quite the real thing, but electric stoves are electric fires that are designed to look like woodburners.

The body looks very similar to a genuine wood-burning stove. Inside, instead of setting logs or solid fuel alight, you get a flame effect. The heat, of course, is instead provided by electricity.

Let’s take a look at a few examples of electric stoves.

Dimplex Club Electric Stove

Electric Stoves - Dimplex Club
One of the most popular electric stoves we stock is the Dimplex Club Electric Stove. It is features a cast iron style finish and Optiflame® log effect. The flame effect can be used even when the 2kW heater is turned off. Have a closer look.

Dimplex Springborne Electric Stove

Electric Stoves - Dimplex Springborne
Unlike the Club, the Dimplex Springborne Electric Stove gives the impression of a multi-fuel stove rather than a wood-burning stove. As such, you can see a bed of coal inside the appliance. And it’s real coal, just pretend flames. Again it’s a 2kW heater. Have a closer look.

Dimplex Brayford Electric Stove

Electric Stoves - Dimplex Brayford
We’re back to logburners with the Dimplex Brayford Electric Stove, another appliance that features Dimplex’s Optiflame® log effect. It is a compact stove that has been designed to standard on standard hearths and fireplaces. Have a closer look.

You can see more electric stoves by clicking here.

Inset log burners: 5 great stoves that fit in your fireplace

Please note: This is an old blog post and many of the stoves featured have since been discontinued. See our current range of inset stoves.


For homeowners who want to install a wood-burning stove, have an existing fireplace and want minimal structural changes to their property, inset log burners are a great option.

An inset log burner is designed to simply slot into a standard sized fireplace opening for an open fire.

This type of appliance allows you to install a log burner without the need to open up the fireplace, as you would in order to accommodate a free-standing appliance.

There are some outstanding inset log burners on the market. Here are a handful of the ones we recommend…

GBS Eco-Inset 7 kW Multi-fuel Stove
inset log burners - GBS Ecoinset
The GBS Eco-Inset 7kW is a stylish inset log burner made from steel. It’s a multi-fuel stove, which means smokeless fuels can also be burned on it. It fits into a standard fireplace opening and creates a 7kW heat output.

Mazona Crete Inset Stove 5kw
Inset Log Burners - Mazona Crete
Another sleek steel inset log burner, the Mazona Crete generates a 5kW heat output. At £350 (price correct at time of writing) it is also very reasonably priced for an inset stove.

Arizona Denver 609 Multi Fuel 6.5 – 7.8 kW Inset Stove
inset log burner - arizona denver
The Arizona Denver is one of our best-selling inset stoves. It slots into a 16-inch wide by 22-inch high fireplace and is simply held in place by two clips, which means it can be fitted in a matter of minutes.

Dimplex Westcott Inset Multi Fuel Stove
Inset Log Burners - Dimplex Westcott
Dimplex is a respected name in the world of heating and the Westcott inset log burner only enhances their reputation. Its distinctive and attractive curved edges are a neat finishing touch to a very nice little woodburner.

Aarrow Inset Ecoburn 7 kW Multi-Fuel Wood Burning Stove
Inset Log Burners - Aarrow Ecoburn 7kW
The most expensive stove on this list, the Aarrow Inset Ecoburn 7 kW is priced at £764.15 (correct at time of writing). For that investment you get a beautifully designed, British-made steel appliance.


That’s just a handful of option. See more inset log burners here.

Slimline electric fires: 5 outstanding appliances

Space is often at a premium in our homes these days. Our TVs keep getting thinner, our computers keep getting thinner, so it makes sense that our fires are getting thinner. Nowhere is that more true than in the case of slimline electric fires.

Like our TVs, electric fire are now often mounted to walls as an additional space-saving measure. And if you’re getting a wall-mounted electric fire, you definitely want it to be as slim as possible.

With that in mind, here are a handful of excellent slimline electric fires.

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