Wharfe Valley Hearths Blog

Before central heating systems made their way into our homes, people depended on fireplaces to keep their interiors warm during winter. These days, the modern heating system has made the fireplace redundant. However, fireplaces can add a lot of charm and character to your space. This is all the more true of trendy standalone stoves with their outstanding looks and modern design. Paired with the perfectly styled hearth plate, your fireplace can become the focal point of your room.

With the winter setting in, this is the right time to install a fireplace to recreate the elegance of old-world ambience. A fireplace with the right hearth will make your winter evenings extra special, cosy and extremely relaxing.

When it comes to choosing the right floor plate for your fireplace, slate hearths are an excellent option. Let’s take a look at the various advantages it offers.

Slate Hearths Have Stylish Looks

Slate is a fine-grained rock that can be cut and shaped into smooth and stylish pieces. It is available in shades of grey from dark to pale, which creates an aura of subdued sophistication in any space. However, slate can also be cyan, bluish, purple or even green in colour. The variations in colour offer you complete flexibility when using slate hearths for your fireplace.

Irrespective of your decor, you are sure a find a shade of slate that will be fit in perfectly with your interiors.

Excellent Performance

Slate hearths not only look stunningly beautiful but are high in performance too. Slate is totally fire proof and extremely energy efficient. It has great thermal stability, which means the heat does not transfer easily to the exterior of your fireplace.

Slate hearths are compatible with electricity, gas or solid fuels like coal or wood. What’s more, these hearths are extremely durable and resistant to staining. Slate is also inert to chemicals and does not encourage the growth of bacteria or fungus.

Easy to Install

Slate hearth plates are very easy to install. Simply choose the style and shape of your slate hearth from our collection and place your order. We will deliver your chosen hearth plate to your home or place of business in no time. Simply remove the slate hearth from the packing and place it on the floor and you’re done.

Low on Maintenance

Maintaining your slate hearth is easy and totally fuss-free. Since slate is fire proof, chemically inert and resistant to staining and bacterial growth, it does not require elaborate scrubbing or cleaning. Regular dusting is enough to keep your slate hearth plates bright and shining through the years.

Bespoke Fireplace

Slate can be cut and crafted in different dimensions to suit various spaces. At Wharfe Valley Hearths, slate hearths are available in standard sizes that comply with the building regulations. Our slate hearths offer complete safety as they’re sure to catch any glowing embers and flying ash before they damage your floor.

And with different colour options, you can enjoy your unique bespoke fireplace with slate hearths that are available in different designs like semicircle, square or teardrop.

The primary factor to consider when buying a hearth is the kind of material it is made of. Stove hearths are made of highly fire-resistant materials as they need to catch flying embers, ash and sparks, and prevent them from causing any fire accident.

Hearth plates are available in wide variety of attractive and durable materials. Let’s take a look at some wonderful options.

Sandstone Hearths

Sandstone is one of the earliest known materials to be used for stove hearths. Sandstone is non-combustible and it’s natural density makes sandstone more fire resistant as flames find it difficult to wade through it.

These sandstone hearths boast a timeless appeal. They are highly tough and durable and easy to clean and maintain too. These hearths retain their colour for a long time.

Limestone Hearths

If you are looking for an inexpensive hearth plate, limestone hearths fit the bill. Limestone hearths are highly resistant to daily wear and tear. These hearths are a great option if you are looking for lighter shades.

Concrete Hearths

Concrete hearths are timeless in their appeal and go with any kind of décor. Whether you are looking for a traditional or contemporary look, concrete hearths can deliver the desired effect.

Given its natural composition, concrete is a highly non-combustible material. Moreover, concrete spreads heat slowly, which serves as an extreme protection against fires.

Granite Hearths

Granite is a popular material used for its unmatched beauty, durability and versatility. Granite hearths are great for gas, electric as well as stoves with solid fuel. These hearths are less expensive than soapstone and marble and are available in different patterns and colours.

Slate Hearths

If you are looking for darker shades, get a slate hearth. These hearths are extremely durable, usually lasting for years. But, slate hearths need to be used only with electric and gas stoves, and not with solid-fuel stoves, for they crack under the pressure.

Glass Hearths

If you want to show off your floor without covering it with a hearth, glass hearths are the ultimate choice. They are timeless in looks, and extremely tough and durable.

Hearth Size

The hearth size is also an important consideration. The Building Regulations Act specifies the dimensions needed for the hearth so that it protects occupants from fire hazards.

If you are thinking of hearths, think of Wharfe Valley Hearths. We have a range of hearths in slate, granite, sandstone, limestone, granite, concrete and glass, in different shades and shapes. Whether you want to position your stove in a corner or edge, we have a shape to suit your priorities. We also cut hearths to your specifications.

Call us at 01937 859243 for more information.

When used within safety limits, wood burning stoves are great to have, in any home. They keep you warm and cosy during the cold, harsh, winters. With modern stylish wood stoves, you can also enhance the décor of your home.

With the right safety precautions in place, you can enjoy this amazing appliance for a long time.

Keep Combustible Materials Away

Ensure that the carpet or other combustible materials such as rugs are away from the stove – even small embers can cause fires.

Choose your flooring covers carefully. Floors made of brick or linoleum are ideally suited for the purpose.

Adjust Air Vents Appropriately

The air vents on a stove allow you to adjust the oxygen levels so that you can fire the fuel per your requirements. However, an overdose of oxygen can burn up all the fuel and overheat your stove.

It is crucial to keep the air vents at lower levels during the nights. Remember to adjust them when you are planning to take a long vacation. Leaving them at a higher level can result in fire accidents.

Use Safe Fuel and Lighting Sources

Avoid using lighter fluids to start a fire in the stove. This could result in an explosion. Avoid using charcoal too. Charcoal emits carbon-monoxide, which when inhaled steadily, can even lead to death.

Use split, well-seasoned hardwood instead of green or damp wood. This ensures better fuel efficiency. Green or damp wood, on the other hand, produces heavy smoke and odour. Creosote is another toxic by-product that’s released when you burn wood. Left uncleaned, it can pile up in the stove’s chimney resulting in fire mishaps. It can even damage your stove.

Install a Hearth

A hearth is a non-combustible platform on which the wood burning stove sits. In addition to being a safety mechanism, a hearth is also a legal requirement per the Building Regulations. The dimensions of a stove hearth should be such that it prevents fire accidents that could be caused by embers falling on nearby materials.

For the best hearths, look no further than Wharfe Valley Hearths. All our hearths meet the safety regulations. They are made of premium-grade materials including granite, glass, slate and stone. We specialise in bespoke hearths – discover hearths customised to your choice of colour, shape and size.

Schedule Professional Safety Checks Regularly

Have a professional to check your stove and chimney at least every year. An annual inspection ensures that any issues can be identified early, preventing risks of fire mishaps. The inspector can also certify if your stove is in proper working condition.

With these safety precautions in place, you can enjoy the warmth of your stove with your loved ones without worry and fear!

Hearths are there for a purpose – they surround the stove to prevent fire hazards from falling embers. When you install a stove, it becomes the focal point of the space. Therefore, the hearth you use should be equally fascinating.

It is, therefore, important to ensure that they are made of materials that offer excellent fire safety. It is equally important that they look attractive. Why not choose sandstone hearths then?

Need more reasons? Here’s a look at the benefits of installing sandstone hearth plates.

Extremely Fire Resistant

Sandstone is a non-combustible natural product. It is also denser, which means fire takes more time to penetrate through this natural stone. These properties make sandstone a preferable material for building hearths.

Sandstone hearths capture glowing embers, sparks and ash with great efficiency. They are great at protecting you from possible fire accidents and hazards.

Fine Thermal Insulation

Sandstone exhibits excellent thermal insulation properties. They retain heat longer, which can be a great advantage during colder months when biting cold demands all the warmth you can get!

Attractive Colours

Sandstone is basically grains of rock and sand-sized mineral particulates. Quartz and clay are the main ingredients of this rock. It looks like sand and is available in a variety of colours including beige, golden and grey.

Whether you are looking for a brighter finish or a lighter shade, sandstone hearths are available in a riot of colours to suit your aesthetic taste and interior décor!

For example, a grey hearth can be a great addition to a room with a light-coloured flooring and walls. It can also bring in a rustic effect with other elements rightly complemented!

Customisable

Sandstone hearths can be cut and customised to any shape.

At Wharfe Valley Hearths, we offer sandstone hearths in an array of attractive shapes including teardrop, large and small semicircle, truncated, quadrant and square. This means that you’ll have a hearth that fits in anywhere in your space, be it a corner or an edge!

Easy Maintenance

Sandstone hearths are easy to maintain. Vacuuming can remove loose dust and dirt particles. For cleaning stubborn stains such as soot, dry clean the area with a vacuum or dry cloth first.

Then, use a specialised hearth cleaner on the entire stained area. After 5 to 10 minutes, use a damp cloth on the area, gently pressing on and lifting the cloth so that the stain sticks to the cloth. Repeat till entire stain is removed.

You can choose to seal the hearth to prevent staining.

Buy the Best Sandstone Hearths at Wharfe Valley Hearths

Explore a range of sandstone hearths at Wharfe Valley Hearths’ online store. Our hearths are made of premium grade sandstone, so you get an extremely durable and beautiful product. We can create customised hearths, cut to the size and shape specified by you. We also have a range of attractive colours.

Hearth plates are placed underneath a standalone stove to protect your combustible flooring cover. Whether your floor covering is wood or carpet, a good quality hearth plate can protect it against any fire hazards. You can place any hearth plate that’s made of any non-combustible material. There is a wide range of materials to choose from. Here are four exciting options for you to consider.

Glass Hearth Plates

Glass stove plates are highly stylish, easy to maintain, heat resistant, and are ideal for standalone electric and wood burning stoves. Usually made of 12mm thick toughened glass, these hearths add a touch of elegance and class to any space. These are the most affordable and easy to clean hearths available in the market, and are a popular choice.

Limestone Hearths

Limestone is a popular natural stone that’s primarily made of a mineral called calcite. It is usually formed over millions of years by shell, sand and mud deposits at the bottom of oceans and lakes. A limestone hearth adds an instant visual appeal in any space. Limestone hearths are available in a wide range of colours and shapes. Although they are pricier when compared to glass hearths, they score highly on beauty and performance. So if you are looking for a hearth floor plate that will stand out in your room, look no further than limestone hearths.

Slate Hearths

Slate is a highly unique natural stone that is highly durable and powerfully beautiful at the same time. It is known to be one of the most durable natural stones and is resistant to scratches, cracks, chips and breaks. It is a relatively high-end stone. At Wharfe Valley Hearths, you can choose from Riven Slate and Smooth Slate hearths at competitive prices.

Granite Hearths

Granite is another very popular natural stone. A granite hearth will add a dash of luxury and timeless beauty to your space. It is highly durable, stunningly beautiful and adds loads of value no matter where you place it. At Wharfe Valley Hearths, we offer polished granite hearths and flamed granite hearths in a wide range of shapes including teardrop, quadrant, square, semi-circular and rectangular hearths.

Buy High Quality Hearth Floor Plates at Wharfe Valley Hearths

We are a leading supplier of hearths in Leeds and have built a reputation for offering high quality products at competitive prices. We offer customisation options to ensure you get a product that meets your requirements. Explore our online store right away to place your order.

Hearth plates form the base of standalone stoves. Apart from looking spectacular, hearths serve a crucial safety purpose. They catch embers, ash and other by-products from your fireplace or stove, preventing them from causing any damage and thwarting possible fire hazards. The use of a hearth is a legal requirement too, under the Building Regulations Act.

If you are looking to buy a hearth, why not try a limestone hearth? It boasts numerous benefits.

Highly Fire-Resistant

Limestone hearths exhibit a high degree of fire and heat resistance. They are not easily damaged by falling embers and ash from the fireplace or burning stove. Hearths made of limestone are, therefore, a safer choice.

Extremely Strong and Durable Product

Limestone hearths pack in all the fantastic benefits of the natural stone. These hearths are resistant to dents, scratches or other such damages. Limestone hearths are also super tough, meaning they can handle the stress of your stove excellently.

Once you install a limestone hearth, you can safely use it for several years.

Highly Flexible Material

Limestone hearths can be cut to any shape and size, thanks to the flexibility of the natural rock. These hearths can be shaped into any form too.

As per the Building Regulations Act, a hearth must meet minimum size requirements to ensure complete safety.

Given their flexibility, limestone floor plates can be cut to desired dimensions and shapes. This means that you can choose from a wide variety of shapes with limestone hearths.

Highly Aesthetic

Hearths made of limestone are pleasing to the eye. They are compatible with any type of décor. Whether you want a natural tone or a contemporary hue, you can have these stove hearths that match your needs exactly.

Highly Affordable

Limestone is an easily available rock. As a result, hearths made of limestone are affordable.

At Wharfe Valley Hearths, we offer a beautiful collection of limestone hearths! We offer a variety of shapes including teardrop and semicircle in a wide range of attractive colours. Our cream stone is a wonderful choice if you are looking for a natural and light tone for your space!

Our hearths are made of premium grade limestone, are extremely good looking and highly durable. We can also create and deliver custom-designed limestone hearths.

Wood burning stoves are highly efficient. They radiate warmth equally in all directions, keeping you warm throughout the cold season. Modern trendy stoves can enhance the beauty of a space too.

Wood stoves are highly eco-friendly – they do not add to the existing carbon footprint – which makes them an appropriate solution in today’s times.

Whether you already own a wood burning stove or are planning to buy one, maintaining your stove properly is important to preserve its efficiency. Here are some tips to help keep your stove in top form.

Choose Your Fuel Well

Choose only hardwoods such as maple, oak and ash wood. These woods are dense and heavy and, therefore, burn more and generate more heat than softwood varieties like pine and cedar.

Substandard fuel may come at cheaper prices, but they contain impurities, especially damp wood, which impacts how the fuel burns and ultimately affects the heat radiation. Damp wood also results in more soot, leaving a blackened stove glass for you to clean.

Buy well-seasoned wood – wood that has been cut and dried in a closed environment for at least 6 to 12 months. Check the moisture level of the wood using a moisture meter – the ideal moisture level is below 20%.

Clean the Stove and Hearth

Keep the insides of the stove clean. Give the stove roof a wipe too. Remember to clean the ashes off the hearth plate using a vacuum. Use a small wire brush for areas that are too narrow to reach otherwise.

Keep Your Chimney Clean

Cleaning your chimney is important for safety and to have your stove working efficiently when needed. Have a certified professional handle your chimney cleaning. Be sure to have it cleaned professionally at least once a year.

Clean Stove Glass Regularly

Get rid of unsightly dirt and soot on the glass with regular cleaning. For best results, use a paper towel, crumpled paper or damp cloth, dipped in ash to clean the glass. Use specialised wood stove glass cleaner for stubborn stains.

Use a Fireproof Hearth

Using a fireproof hearth is part of the safety regulations. A hearth protects the area in the immediate vicinity of the wood stove. It should be made of non-combustible material. We suggest using one of our glass floor plates.

Planning to install a freestanding stove in your home? You must install a hearth (also known as a floor plate) under the stove. If your woodburning stove doesn’t heat the floor more than 100°C, the regulations are pretty straightforward.

The Hearth Regulations for Standalone Stoves

If your standalone stove does not heat the floor beyond 100°C, the hearth regulations in the UK require that the floor hearth must be at least 12mm thick and cover a minimum area of 840 x 840mm. Moreover, there must be a minimum space of 225mm at the front of the stove door. If the stove burns with its doors open, the minimum gap should be at least 300mm.

The Benefits of Installing a Floor Hearth

A floor hearth helps ensure that any stray sparks or embers from the stove don’t end up setting your floor on fire. The floor plate must be made of non-combustible material such as glass, granite, stone, concrete or any other non-combustible material.

The floor plate must sit flat on the surrounding flooring. After all, you don’t want to remove a fire hazard at the cost of creating a tripping hazard.

A floor hearth not only protects your combustible floor from the heat and the fire debris, it also adds a touch of style to your space. So choose a floor plate that perfectly matches your interiors in style and elegance.

Tips to Protect Your Space from Fire Hazards

If the walls of the room are combustible, consider installing a shield to help reduce the clearance area of the stove. Similar to the hearth plate, the shield must also be made of non-combustible material such as sheet metal.

You must understand that the risk of fire does not end by placing a hearth plate. Fire safety is not just about the construction materials around the stove. It’s also about what you are storing in your room. Do not store wood or kindling within the clearance area. Place blankets, curtains, rugs, cleaning rags and other combustible fabric away from the stove. Moreover, avoid placing chemical cleaners near the hearth.

You must also remember that if you overfire the stove constantly, you are still exposed to fire hazards. Excessive heat can melt metal. So avoid building larger fires than you actually need.

Buy High Quality Floor Hearths

It is important to buy a high quality floor hearth to ensure that you not only meet the hearth regulations, but that your floor is completely protected. Wharfe Valley Hearths bring to you a wide range of premium quality floor plates. Check out our collection right away to find the perfect floor hearth for your space.

A hearth aims to protect the property from your stove. The rules are pretty strict if you are inserting your stove inside a fireplace recess. However, if the stove is a standalone one that will be placed outside the recess, the regulations are not that strict.

So let’s take a look at the hearth regulations that apply for a freestanding stove that’s not being inserted into a fireplace recess.

The Hearth Regulations for Freestanding Stoves

If your freestanding hearth is certified to not heat the hearth beneath it to any more than 100°C, the hearth regulations are easy and simple.

Hearth Thickness

The hearth must be at least 12mm thick and should be constructed of non-combustible materials to offer complete protection to the floor. You can choose from a wide range of materials including glass, slate, granite, concrete and stone.

Dimensions

The hearth plate should offer free space on all three sides of the stove. The boundary of the hearth must be visually obvious so as to warn the occupants and to ensure the floor does not come in direct contact with the stove.

The hearth should measure at least 840 x 840mm and must have a space of at least 225mm at the front of the stove door. However, if the stove is designed in a way that it burns with doors open, there should be a minimum space of at least 300mm at the front.

To be on the safer side, opt for a floor hearth plate that leaves 300mm of space from the stove door.

Those are the two simple regulations that your floor plate must comply with. However, if you are inserting your stove into the fireplace recess, then the rules are quite complicated and very strict.

Hearth Plates for Standalone Stoves

If you are installing a freestanding woodburning stove, then you don’t have to worry too much as there aren’t many rules to comply with as we saw above. Simply ensure that they meet with the minimum thickness and dimension requirements and you are all set.

Whether you are looking to buy a glass hearth plate or a hearth plate made of limestone, sandstone, concrete, Wharfe Valley Hearths has a wide range of hearths to offer that comply with the regulations for hearths meant for standalone stoves.

Explore our online store today and you are sure to find something that meets your taste and requirements. We also offer customisation options. Get in touch with us today for more information.

Hearth plates for standalone stoves are available in a variety of materials including sandstone, granite, limestone, slate, concrete and glass. Glass floor plates are stylish, easy to clean, and very affordable too. No wonder then that they are one of the most popular types of hearths. However, any glass plate won’t do. Let’s take a look at some essential aspects to consider when buying glass hearths.

Hearth Regulations

This is an important consideration. The hearth regulations are pretty straightforward for standalone woodburning stoves that heat up the floor plate no more than 100°C. You don’t need a fully thick constructional hearth. However, the glass plate should be at least 12mm thick.

Moreover, the boundary of the hearth must be obviously apparent so as to ensure the combustible floor is not exposed to the heat produced by the stove. To that end, your glass hearth plate must measure at least 840mm x 840mm with at least 225mm before the stove door. However, if the stove has been designed to burn with the door open, then the frontage should be at least 300mm.

At Wharfe Valley Hearths, all the hearths we sell strictly comply with hearth regulations for your complete peace of mind.

High Quality Glass

Ensure that the glass hearth you are buying is a toughened glass. You might think that all glass is the same. However, that’s not the truth. If the glass is not made of high quality materials, it may crack or damage easily. Be sure to buy from a reliable retailer.

Quality also refers to the finish of the glass plate. Ensure that the edges are polished consistently. Avoid buying a glass plate with unpolished edges as there’s the risk of cuts.

Wharfe Valley is a reputed provider of glass hearths in Leeds. We have a wide range of glass hearths that meet the highest standards of quality.

Price

Although glass floor plates are one of the most affordable among all types of hearths, it is important to ensure that you are paying the right price for your purchase. At Wharfe Valley Hearths, we price our products competitively to ensure you get the best value for your money.

Customisation

Sometimes the standard product might not be your first choice. You might want a glass plate that’s bigger than the minimum size requirements. Perhaps you may want a colour glass plate. Be sure to check with you provider the customisation options.

In Conclusion

There you go. Those are some important aspects to consider when buying a glass hearth. Wharfe Valley Hearths has built a reputation for offering high quality glass plates. So when you are looking to buy a glass hearth in Leeds, look no further. Order online right away.