jennyabe, Have you thought of matching the wood grain tiles to your wood floor?? There are tons of designs and they look very realistic, we are considering using them in our entire living room. As inviting as wood floors without the worry about care. Vacuum and mop and they are good as new! Just a thought....

Hi I know this is an old thread, however I need advice on a similar problem. We have asked our builder to install a hole in the wall vertical gas fire on a narrow false chimney breast. He has done this but the hole cut out for the fire is from floor level and we won't have a hearth, we wanted the fire about 18" from the floor which will be Karndean. Should I insist it's raided before the fitting. We have a window the one side and French doors to the other. Thanks for any advice

I am in the middle of getting some wood floors installed and had them tear out the tile in front of the fireplace - to replace with updated tiles. I also like the look of no tile in front of the fireplace. I am being told I do not need the tile in front, yet I worry the heat will ruin the wood finish on my engineered hard wood floors as Kathleen above mentioned.

Rosalie - - did you ever get an answer and how did you proceed? We have just pulled up our carpet, and I'd like to pull up the tile and go all the way to our enclosed (the glass does not open) gas fireplace with our laminate that we are installing next week. Thanks!

I am of the same opinion as jennyabe -- I don't like the look of a hearth. When we moved into our home, the fireplace had been made for dual heat sources - wood and natural gas. We converted to have it solely as a gas fireplace. But I'm left with a big brick hearth that juts out into the room. I would love to take a cold chisel and sledge hammer to it myself, but my husband says no. I'm getting the idea from the thread that I could have the hearth removed. I would even be okay with some kind of nice tile on the floor in front. I just don't care for the raised brick hearth. My 9 year old uses it as a dumping ground for his junk - drives me mad. So I think I'll look into destroying that brick elephant I have in my living room. I appreciate all the discussion. Oh, and then I need to deal with the floor to ceiling brick that surrounds it. Definitely not my cup of tea. The windows are on the east side of the room, so once the sun moves, the room looks quite dark with all that brick. I would LOVE a white marble fireplace surround. Or, maybe (realistically) I'll just paint the brick a nice, bright, metallic, reflective white!

Thanks for all the info, everybody!

Hello, sorry to take so long to respond. Yes, I did remove the hearth, and my wood is right up against my fireplace. I called a few builders and they said the gas fireplaces do not get hot enough to damage my engineered wood floors, not sure about laminate. I also asked the Shaw wood floor rep and got the same response. I have been using the gas fireplace and have to admit I worry a little. I really love the look so much better.

I tore out the ugly tile and added a white tile with a light grey grout. I am now waiting on the mantle to be finished and I'm painting it white as well.

Rosalie- is your fireplace sealed with glass, or does it have doors that open?

It has doors that open. But it’s natural gas.

It is sealed with glass. My home was built in 2002, your typical gas fireplace.

I am going through something similar. My husband wants to put tile on the floor in front of the fireplace but i want the laminate to go all the way to the wood burning fire place. Would that work? My husband says it would be a fire hazard. Should we talk with the fire department about local fire codes? - Thanks!

hrechkafield I was unable to obtain the stone I wanted for my corner fireplace so we painted the drywall white and it is beautiful. The hearth has a granite top and the front is panted a light tan to blend in with the granite and carpet. I say, dare to be different.

Hi lovely people

we re having hardwood floors installed tomorrow! Not sure whether to install new hearth tiling or have wood go right to the gas fireplace? Love your asap thoughts

Hi I know this is an old thread, but what did you end up installing and if hardwood, did it damage it over time?

how many inches does the brick extend on the floor in front of fireplace? need answer for California. Thanks