Cantilevered hearth

[MrJay83]

Hi,

I'm renovating a room in my 1880s home and came across this on the top floor. It's stone, in front of the chimney so I'm assuming it's a hearth but when I knock it with my fist it sound like it's not solid and cantilevered from the wall.
Anyone seen something like this before?

 

[Rodcx500z]

We have one in the front bedroom of our terraced house and like you assumed it was an hearth, we have never bothered about removing it though and it is in line with the chimney

 

[MrJay83]

Yeah I've no intention of moving it. I was just worried because it doesn't sound too solid. My mother in law stays in this room when she is over and knowing her would stand right on it.
I've a builder coming in a few weeks and I'll see what he says.

 

[Clint]

I dunno about your hearth but looking at the thread title without my specs I thought it said cantilevered EARTH....I thought..here we go again!

 

[MashBag]

Yup it's a hearth stone. If it shows no cracks it will be fine. Leave it there. It ain't broke don't fix it till it is.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I remember when my sister bought her first home it had a fireplace like the one below in the bedroom

 

[pilgrimhudd]

I was going suggest a coffin hatch but I will bow to more learned posters.

 

[Tanglefoot]

The perimeter of your hearth stone will be supported by the floor joisting.
The void underneath is either bricked in ( sat on frame of batten/boards )
or just filled with rubble/lime (straight on top of ceiling below ) which is why it sounds hollow.
As said, leave as is - plenty of other things to worry about in a Victorian house !

 

[MrJay83]

As said, leave as is - plenty of other things to worry about in a Victorian house !

You better believe that