Help Removing or Leveling Fireplace Hearth!

[firehot]

I am going to install a laminate flooring in my son's bedroom. I removed the old carpet and I found this concrete slab in front of the chimney breast. Its not level with the subfloor about 1cm high. I just wondering how can I remove this without causing any problem on my chimney or flooring. Or how should I level this from my subfloor. Many Thanks.

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[Burnerman]

Unfortunately, these hearths were often supported from the ceiling below by metalwork and boarding strong enough to take the poured weight of the concrete slab.......in other cases the hearth was created with a chunk of 2" thick york stone - maybe with a cement screed on top.
The use of a power hammer will certainly cause ceiling damage, I'm afraid so I reckon that gentle hand chiselling is the way to go.
An angle grinder could speed things up of course, but the dust will be horrendous.
John

 

[dazlight]

Or you could put plywood down on the rest of the floorboards to bring the height up.