The warm glow of a crackling fire is always a welcome sight.
Whether you’re gathered with family and friends on your patio, roasting marshmallows around an outdoor fireplace or are curled up indoors on a crisp NJ winter’s eve, the fireplace is truly a focal point of your home.
No fireplace is truly complete, however, without an attractive hearth.
Bluestone is one of the more popular choices among NJ homeowners as it provides a unique touch to their home.
If you’ve been considering bluestone as your material-of-choice for your fireplace’s hearth, you may be curious about the benefits of bluestone, how much it costs and which one would fit your home perfectly.
As we’ve worked with countless NJ homeowners on these questions, we wanted to break down each aspect to give you the best perspective on bluestone hearths for your home.
Benefits of a Bluestone Hearth
Historically, the hearth was an integral part of the household that it nearly became synonymous with the word “home” (this is where the saying “of hearth and home” was derived).
For many years people lost sight of the importance of the hearth, however it is now becoming increasingly popular to revamp the bottom of the fireplace to include a hearth.
Bluestone is an excellent solution for this need because it offers a stunning beauty that immediately attracts the eye, but it’s subtle enough that it doesn’t overshadow the fireplace itself.
The non-combustible nature of bluestone also helps to promote safety both inside and outside of the home. Depending on the size of the hearth, it can be utilized to display spark screens and other objects or to store firewood.
Bluestone Hearth Sizes
Bluestone hearths can easily be fitted to almost any fireplace, regardless of size. You’ll find that bluestone hearths are typically 2″ in thickness, but can be purchased in widths of 16″, 18″, 20″ or 24″.
Lengths are traditionally stocked in full foot lengths ranging from 4 foot through 9 foot. Other sizes can be custom cute or ordered on a custom basis. Ideally, the hearth will be between 1ft-4ft wide.
Should you require a larger hearth, you’ll need to speak with your stone supplier about the purchase of a bluestone slab, as stone cut greater than 24″ is considered to be a slab.
Bluestone Hearth Cost
Bluestone is considered to be the most common choice of fireplace hearths. As a result, it may be more expensive than other hearth materials, like brick.
Despite it costing more than some alternatives, homeowners consistently say that the cost is well worth the beauty and final product.
You should plan your budget for your new bluestone hearth based upon the size of the hearth (or slab) that you require in order to complete the project.
For obvious reasons, a larger natural stone hearth will cost more than one of a smaller size. You’ll also find that while some home improvement stores sell stone hearths, they will be more expensive than those that come directly from a stone supplier.
Buying Bluestone Hearths in NJ
If you’re looking to spruce up your fireplace with a bluestone hearth, Braen Supply has a large variety of options for you to choose from. We have been in the industry for more than a decade and have helped homeowners with hearths of all shapes and sizes.
Our hearth materials are produced with care and precision so that you can get the one that fits your home perfectly. Depending on the quantity, hearths can be delivered to NJ, NY, PA and CT.
