You can cover it with a non-combustible material like brick or stone, or even paint it. The other option is to have it jack-hammered out. Of course, that means you will still have a raised firebox and will have to have a non-combustible material put on the floor level hearth and under the firebox. As an aside, make sure that you don't install any combustible material within 8 to 12 inches (depending on your local building code) from the sides and top of the firebox opening. It's a fire danger and is against Code.

I had one of those! I got rid of most of it but kept just the hearth. I'm laying travertine over it.

Are you positive that it's solid concrete? Mine was concrete covering breeze blocks. So it was easy to hammer out. Just a tad dusty!

Good luck

I have a floor to ceiling brick fireplace that is painted white. The hearth is 9" high. I need to tear down the hearth. It doesn't work with a toddler trying to "help" a crawling 8 month old. Tried babyproofing it, but no adhesive lasts that is eventually removable. Any suggestions what to do with this thing. I don't want to rip out the hearth and end up just put tile on the floor and it looking like crap, but I've got to do something soon. Thanks for any tips and suggestions.

We have something similar and are trying to figure out what to do... We just installed a gas insert and are planning on a new mantle soon. We also want to keep the brick but don't feel that we can tile over the concrete slab thing without it looking strange. We're thinking about a slab of granite since ours is open underneath.

I get a prize because I have 2 of them! One in the living room is a gas fireplace with concrete mantle and raised hearth and the brick is peachy/orangy. Previous owners built this and it's been mine for 15 years. I've not loved it for a long time but have made due. It's also in the middle of the room and the back of it messes up my kitchen and dining room colors...oh well, it's clean.

In the basement family room, I have a wood burning one with the same sort of concrete mantle and hearth......they made them look like stone like stacy's. The brick down there is blond and I hate it and am thinking of painting the whole thing. Right now I'm leaning toward starting with painting the concrete first and then seeing how I feel. I'm frozen....kind of scared to act. But I do have a pointless little way too high shelf made out of that concrete ....It's so high that nobody can see the top so I think I'll experiment with that first.

sorry!!