Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 1:29 pm
I will be laying a new 2 piece 45mm deep slate hearth onto an old brickwork hearth base having lifted up the slabs that were installed previously. An 8kw wood/coal burning stove will be installed on top of the hearth so it will be exposed to quite a bit of heat especially underneath the stove itself.
The room itself is ground floor with wooden floorboards fitted flush to the existing brickwork hearth base. Airbricks ventilate the underfloor space. Fitted carpets will be fitted up to the hearth which will cover the bedding mortar base.
(1) What mix should I use for the mortar/bedding base. Should it include Lime/Sharp Sand/Building Sand?
(2) Is it necessary to provided some kind of key on the underside of the slate so that it sticks better to the bedding mix? e.g. maybe coat it with a PVA mix with a bit if sand mixed in?
(3) I was thinking of having quite a small gap (maybe 2mm) between the rear and front slate slabs so I was thinking of a dark grout. Any recommendations for grouting bearing in mind that it will be pretty hot down there?
The room itself is ground floor with wooden floorboards fitted flush to the existing brickwork hearth base. Airbricks ventilate the underfloor space. Fitted carpets will be fitted up to the hearth which will cover the bedding mortar base.
(1) What mix should I use for the mortar/bedding base. Should it include Lime/Sharp Sand/Building Sand?
(2) Is it necessary to provided some kind of key on the underside of the slate so that it sticks better to the bedding mix? e.g. maybe coat it with a PVA mix with a bit if sand mixed in?
(3) I was thinking of having quite a small gap (maybe 2mm) between the rear and front slate slabs so I was thinking of a dark grout. Any recommendations for grouting bearing in mind that it will be pretty hot down there?