I am not sure I think I would need to see the situation and also no to stacked stone which is already dated. If you were using some other material it would be possible to have a very thin veneer of the same to cover the hearth.

Thank you Patricia. What are your thoughts for covering the brick. Attached is what we are looking at.

You don’t add stone on top of that. That’s amateur and completely wrong. You remove the brick first. 100%.

I was going to frame Hardiboard first.

What are your thoughts on hearth being higher than firebox?

Joe,

I'm assuming it is a wood burning fireplace with a gas log installed in it. I sell gas logs and the manufacturer requires the hearth inside the fireplace to be no less than 3/4" lower than the hearth outside. Otherwise, they can soot up and produce excess carbon monoxide.

The doors you have on that fireplace add to the issue and if you raise the hearth very much, you are likely going to have to replace your fireplace doors as well. That I can help you with:

View Fireplace Glass Doors Here

I have the same question. We have refaced the old brick with porcelain tiles that look like brick. I want to add a one inch thick topper on the hearth, maybe pocelain pavers. The inside floor will be lower by that much. In the photo you see the original brick on the hearth, the new tiles everywhere else. Is that height difference a problem?