QDEAR TIM: I have a concrete fireplace hearth. Is it possible to cover it with slate? If so, is that difficult? Instead of slate, should I just install a hearth pad? -- Marianne C., Millis ...

Thank you, Judy. I reached out to my friend Ted McFadden, author of the “Stone Care Guide,” for advice. Ted says pets are usually not the cause of scratches on a hearth, though it is not ...