www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

As the title says:

the hearth is 1m x 1m and 500mm deep, down to 'bare brick' which is blackened from the old fire. It is going to have a woodstove installed. The bricks have been wire brushed to remove all loose material and is (I hope) ready for tiling.

The tiles are 600x300mm ceramic and 'bog standard' tile cement is intended to be used - IS THIS CORRECT? Would the heat from the woodstove require any special cement? If the brickwork requires a clean/smooth surface, would ordinary one-coat plaster do the job? Would you recommend any surface preparation if plastering is required? If so, what?

Mucho grassy-arse.

forgot to ask.....

what's the difference between wall tile adhesive and floor tile adhesive?

interesting question..... logically wall adhesive will be lighter and grippier and floor adhesive should be more bonded and harder wearing? will have to look this one up if no one comes up with the answer

If your chosen tile is 600 x 300 then use a 10mm solid bed trowel, which should give you enough tolerance to get the tiles flush.
ceramics are not a suitable tile for direct heat, at best the glaze wll craze / crack in time, if not the biscuit, i would recommend full bodied porcelain, quarries, granite, your adhesive and grout will have to be flexible as will suffer from heat expansion / contraction, use dark grout or it will discolour and i would recommend a grout protector.