Ceramic Tile Hearth

Add beauty and safety to your fireplace by installing a tile hearth.

Problem: Your wood floor extends to the fireplace. This poses a safety hazard because burning embers could pop out onto the floor.

Solution: You can install a tile hearth in front of the fireplace to lower the risk of fire damage.

Materials list:

tiles
grout
circular saw
masuring tape
dovetail saw
miter box
hammer
nail set
notched trowel
grout float
grout sponge
drill, with assorted drill bits and a Phillips driver bit
caulk gun and heat-resistant caulk
safety glasses

* Never install tile directly onto a hardwood floor. Install a backer board first.

1. Mark the center point of the fireplace to determine where to place the hearth, and dry-fit the tiles to determine the size of the hearth. If you plan to use spacers to separate the tiles, be sure to include them in the dry-fit.
2. If a trim piece is in the way, you can cut it instead of the tile. To determine where to make your cut, place a piece of backer board and tile next to the trim and add 3/16" to represent the thickness of the tile adhesive. Use a dovetail saw to cut the trim.
3. Use a circular saw with an all-purpose blade to cut the backer board to size.
4. Attach the backer board to the floor using construction adhesive. Pre-drill pilot holes and secure the board to the floor using all-purpose screws. Screw the corners down first.
5. Draw reference lines on the backer board to help keep the layout straight.
6. Use a notched trowel to spread tile adhesive onto the backer board. When setting the tiles in place, use a slight twisting motion so that the adhesive will hold them in place. You may want to use tile spacers to make sure the grout lines are even. Allow the adhesive to dry overnight.
7. For a more professional look, install trim around the hearth. Miter-cut the corners of the trim, then pre-drill pilot holes and attach the trim using finish nails. Use a nail set to drive the heads of the nails below the surface of the trim, and cover the nail holes with wood putty.
8. Remove the tile spacers and then spread grout into the joints using a grout float. Remove excess grout using a grout sponge. Keep the sponge clean by rinsing it frequently. Allow the grout to dry for 15 minutes then buff away any residual haze from the tiles.
9. Apply a bead of heat-resistant caulk between the fireplace and the hearth.