Our Services
Hearths measured, repaired and finished
Written quotes from local hearth pros, and 10% off a repair booked within 72 hours of the free inspection.
Reading a crack in the hearth
Cracks tell different stories. A hairline in the grout between tiles is often surface wear. A crack through one tile may come from a dropped tool or a hollow spot under that piece. A crack that runs across several tiles or through a stone slab, especially one that has widened or stepped, can point to movement in the base. A crack that follows a grout line around each tile tends to be less worrying than one that cuts straight through them.
Direction, width and whether the two sides sit level all matter, and tapping the surface finds hollow areas. Tell us when you first saw the crack and whether it has changed. That history helps separate a surface repair from a support problem.
No wood left under a masonry hearth
The code for masonry fireplaces says combustible material shall not remain against the underside of a hearth or hearth extension after construction. Brick industry guidance explains why builders use noncombustible forming for the hearth slab, since forming under the slab cannot be removed later and becomes a permanent part of the fireplace.
Wood forms, plywood or framing left touching the underside of a hearth is a concern worth finding. Where the underside can be seen, we look, and where a repair opens the hearth, we check what it sits on before closing it again.
Where the floor meets the hearth
The join between the hearth and a wood or laminate floor is more than a finishing detail. The code for masonry fireplaces allows the edges of combustible flooring to butt against the hearth extension only when the edges are 12 inches or more from the inner face of the nearest firebox lining. The rule exists because the flooring edge is the combustible surface closest to the fire.
That distance is checked whenever a hearth or floor is being changed, and we plan the edge so the transition is neat and the flooring stays where it should. If a flooring contractor is involved, we agree the edge detail with them before either finish goes down.
Trim and mantel around the opening
Hearth repairs often lead to a look at the trim around the fireplace. For masonry fireplaces, exposed combustible mantels and trim must sit 6 inches or more from the opening under the code, and within 12 inches of it, anything combustible may project only 1/8 inch for every inch of distance.
If new trim, a mantel or a surround is part of your plans, we measure against those figures before anything is fitted. Wood trim that has crept too close during an earlier remodel is noted in the inspection so you can decide how to deal with it. A mantel shelf higher up the wall is measured too, since its projection is limited by how far it sits above the opening.
