Our Services
Hearths measured, repaired and finished
How much a repair will fix, and how closely the finish can match, explained before any work starts.
Framing kept clear of a masonry fireplace
Behind and around a masonry fireplace, the code wants combustible framing kept 2 inches or more away at the front and sides and 4 inches or more at the back, with the air space left open except for fireblocking. A deep hearth repair can expose the edges of that framing. Those gaps keep the wood around the fireplace from being heated by the masonry over years of use.
When a repair opens the hearth far enough to see the framing, we check those gaps before closing it again. If framing sits too close, we explain what we found and how it can be corrected, and nothing is covered over without your agreement.
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.
Why a new finish never goes over a failing hearth
Laying new tile over an old hearth can look like a quick fix, and on a sound, flat base it can sometimes work. Laid over a base that is cracking or moving, the new finish inherits the same problem and usually cracks along the same lines. The extra layer also adds weight to a base that may already be struggling.
It also raises the hearth and changes the edges, which affects the floor transition and, on a masonry fireplace, the thickness allowances. We check the old hearth first and recommend an overlay only when the base is sound and the new height works everywhere it meets.
What your written hearth quote lists
Our hearth quote names the area to be repaired, the material, the preparation beneath it, the edges and any work on the base. Optional changes, such as a new pattern or a larger extension, are listed separately with their own prices. Each item has its own line, so you can see what the repair costs, what the preparation costs and what the optional changes would add.
Nothing is added in hidden fees, and anything unexpected found under the surface is explained and priced before we go further. When you book the repair within 72 hours of your free inspection, 10% comes off the price. You keep the quote with the written record of the finished work.
