Measuring Help

To order a Norfolk Fender Seat, you will need to complete the order form, downloadable from the Home Page. There are additional FAQs linked here.

This page gives additional information for completing the Measuring Chart.

Please give all the measurements as indicated on the Measuring Chart. The base of the fender frame is 3½ inches wide, and the seat is seven inches wide, in most cases.

We need the width across your hearth, and the front-to-skirting board of the hearth, the width across the fireplace at seat height, and the thickness of the skirting board. 

There are a few "ifs" and "buts" on this page - bear with it and if you need clarification, do please get in touch. The measurements discussed on this page are the inside measurements of the fender’s base.

Determining the width of the fender's base

Hearthstones can be raised (perhaps slate or stone) or flat (set level into the floor). It makes sense for the fender's base to fit snuggly around your hearthstone, sitting on the floor rather than on the hearth. If the base is to fit closely around a raised hearth please give the hearth’s exact measurement and we will allow for fitting. That will be 'A' on the measuring chart.

NB - it's worth checking the width of your hearthstone at the front AND at the back nearer the wall, just in case.

It's important to remember that a seven inch seat will overhang on the inside by three inches. While this isn't an issue along the front side, it sometimes means that the seats cannot return to the wall because of a protruding mantle support. So, please check that the gap from the outside edge of the mantle supports to the outside of the hearth is three inches or more. A six inch seat will overhang by two inches, so consider having six inch seats for a cleaner fit.

The illustration, right, shows an ideal set up: the hearth is two, three or four inches wider each side than the mantle supports. If this is your situation, then scroll down to the next header, “Determining the Depth". If the edge of your hearth is closer to the mantle supports, then don't worry, just read on!

It's not unusual for the width of the hearth to be the same as the width of the mantle supports - but this affects how the seats return to the wall.

Pictures three and four, below, show this. A choice has to be made between having a three inch gap between the fender base and the hearthstone each side (picture three), or a three inch cut-out can be made at the inside ends of the seat to fit around the mantle supports (picture number four). If you decide to have seat cut outs, we will need the depth of your mantle supports (that's "D" on the measuring chart). Illustrated right.

As a general rule, it's best to have the fender sit wider than the hearth with the seats returning to the wall (picture three). But if space is restricted, then have seat cut outs.

Pictures three and four, below, illustrate the hearth being the same width as the mantle supports. A choice has to be made between having a three inch gap between the fender base and the hearthstone each side (picture three), or a three inch cut-out can be made at the inside ends of the seat to fit around the mantle supports (picture number four). If you decide to have seat cut outs, we will need the depth of your mantle supports (that's "D" on the measuring chart). As a general rule, it's best to have the fender sit wider than the hearth with the seats returning to the wall (picture three). But if space is restricted, then have seat cut outs.

1. Hearth is three inches or more wider than mantle. Seats will return to wall and base will sit flush with hearthstone.

2. Hearth is between none and two inches wider than mantle. Seats will return to wall but there will be a small gap between base and hearth. Consider having an infill plate to cover the floor or seat cut outs if you’d rather the fender’s base was flush with hearth.

3. Hearth is the same as mantle, but you'd prefer seats to sit outside mantle to having seat cut outs. The floor is exposed, you might consider having an infill plate.

A note on Infill Plates

If you prefer, we can cover any exposed floor with an infill plate.

Usually the infill plate is black painted as this is less obvious against a slate hearth. Shown right is black painted along the front to extend the distance of the seats from the fire. 

You may have the infill plate in the same finish as the rest of the metalwork, but black is the default.

If the gap to be covered is greater than about five inches, then it's best not to have an infill at all - it just becomes too much.

Skirting thickness

If you have a skirting board, we need to know its width. Usually an inch or two. This is so that the seat returns this much further than the base.

Other considerations

The normal height of a fender seat is 20 inches, but this can be higher or lower to suit the fireplace or the size of the room.

In the case of the fender seat with a curved dip, the width across the curve is around 30 inches.

If you have any gas pipes running along the skirting board, or a gas tap next to the hearth, please give us details and we can build the fender seat to accommodate.

If there are any points on which you would like help or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Phone 01553 776446

email: hello at norfolkfenderseats.co.uk