Fireplace Repair
Getting the hearth right in Altamonte Springs
Surface, edges and support are all checked in a free inspection before our family-owned team repairs a hearth in Altamonte Springs.
Hearth and hearth extension
People say hearth for two different parts. The hearth proper is the solid base the fire sits on inside the firebox, and the Florida residential code asks for it to be at least 4 inches thick on a masonry fireplace. The hearth extension is the noncombustible floor that projects into the room in front of the opening.
Most visible damage sits in the extension, because that is the part people walk on, set things on and look at. The inspection tells you which part is affected, since the firebox floor is repaired as firebox work while the extension has its own size, thickness and support rules. Naming the right part at the start keeps the quote accurate.
How thick the hearth extension has to be
On a masonry fireplace, the Florida residential code sets a minimum hearth extension thickness of 2 inches. There is one exception. Where the bottom of the firebox opening is raised at least 8 inches above the top of the extension, the extension may be as thin as 3/8 inch, in brick, concrete, stone, tile or another approved noncombustible material. The figures apply to masonry fireplaces, and factory-built units follow their own listing.
Thickness matters when a hearth is ground down, cut back or replaced with a thinner finish. We measure the build-up during the inspection, and when the existing hearth relies on the exception, we keep the new finish within it.
How far the extension has to reach
The code for masonry fireplaces sets the extension's reach from the size of the opening. Most openings need 16 inches of hearth out front and 8 inches on each side, while an opening of 6 square feet or more needs 20 inches out front and 12 on each side.
We measure the opening and the extension during every hearth inspection. If the existing extension falls short, we tell you before the repair is planned, because a repair is the natural time to put it right. The measurements are written into the quote, so you can see the existing size beside the figures that apply.
Keeping the room clean during hearth work
Cutting tile, removing mortar and breaking out an old hearth all make dust. We protect the floor and nearby furniture, contain the work area and keep cutting to a minimum inside the house. Dust sheets go down before the first tile comes up, and the fireplace opening is covered so debris does not fall into the firebox.
Every day ends with the area cleaned, and when the job is done the old material and debris leave with us. You come back to a finished hearth and a tidy room.
