Our Services
Repairing tile, brick and stone hearths
The inspection is free, and you choose the finish after seeing each option priced in writing.
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.
When the existing extension falls short
Some hearths were built smaller than today's figures, and some were cut back when a floor was replaced. A short extension leaves flooring closer to the fire than the code intends for a masonry fireplace. It is easy to miss, because the hearth still looks finished and the floor still looks neat.
Repairing the surface and enlarging the extension are different jobs. We explain what enlarging would involve, how it would meet your floor and any approval an alteration of that kind needs, and we price it as its own option. You decide whether to do it now, with the repair, or plan it for later.
Chips from dropped logs and tools
Hearth edges and corners take the knocks. A log dropped from an armload, a poker leaned against the edge or a heavy screen dragged across the surface can chip glazed tile, stone or brick. Soft stones and handmade tiles chip more easily than hard porcelain or brick, which is worth knowing when choosing a replacement.
Small chips can often be filled and blended, and a chipped edge tile can be swapped on its own when the bed is sound. We show you which repairs will show and which will disappear, so you can decide between patching and replacing the piece. A chipped corner on a raised hearth can be rebuilt with a matching piece set in fresh material.
After the hearth repair
Follow the cure times we give you before lighting a fire, and keep heavy items off new work until it is ready. Grout sealers and stone treatments, where used, have their own timings too. Sweep the hearth with a soft brush rather than a stiff one for the first weeks, and use only the cleaners the finish maker recommends.
Watch the repaired area over the first weeks of use. New movement or a crack that returns is worth reporting, since it tells us something about the base. You have a written record of what was done, and our workmanship warranty covers the repair.
