Tableau Slate Oil

Slate hearths can quite easily be scratched, these scratches are more visible on honed surfaces compared to natural riven, but they will just fade and disappear to some extend over time, or if you apply a coat of slate oil this will keep you hearth looking perfect even if under heavy use.

Yes we believe slate is the best material for Fireplace hearths and has been used for centuries with great success. Always look for a good quality slate supplier who is sourcing from either Brazilian quarries or if your budget will stretch from home grown Welsh slate Quarries. I would avoid any Chinese slate as the quality does not tend to be good enough and I would questions the longevity of the material.

Black slate is extremely easy to maintain and cleaning will generally consist of a dust pan and brush or a wet mop and soapy water if heavily soiled. On occasion you can apply a coat of Slate Oil to bring back the lustre of the natural slate, this will also offer some protection against staining.

In the UK market by far the most common material for Fireplace Hearths is Slate, we source our slate from Brazil as it offers an excellent surface finish and is strong enough to withstand the punishment of everyday use.

We would always recommend creating a plywood or cardboard template before starting to cut your Slate hearth blank. You need to fully measure all sides of the opening and establish what over hangs you are going to need to meet current building regs, link to guide below:

https://www.naturalstoneandtimber.co.uk/indoor-fireplace-hearth-installation

When you have transferred these measurements onto the plywood, cut this out carefully and then test this template in the fireplace opening to ensure you have correctly measured. When this is correct the template can be used to mark out the Slate ready for installation.

You have two options when it comes to bedding down your fire place hearth, you can go for traditional sand and cement mortar mixed at a ratio of 4 parts sand to 1 part cement or alternatively you can use a pre-mixed powered tile adhesive. If you need build up one end of the hearth to help with levelling, it sometimes might be easier with sand and cement mortar, as tile adhesives have a maximum depth.

We have branches across the South Coast of England, including Poole in Dorset, Winchester, Tadley, Romsey and Portsmouth in Hampshire. Internal showrooms are available to view in Poole and Portsmouth and external displays are available at Portsmouth, Poole, Winchester and Tadley. 

Please visit our contact page for further information on the following link:    /our-depots

Yes. Our opening hours and address are found on the Contact Us page. We have fork-lift trucks for loading onto suitable vehicles at all sites, and staff are always available to help with loading of smaller items. We highly recommend that you call your local branch, before visiting, to confirm the items you wish to collect are available.