Fireplace Repair
Hearth repair done properly in Lake Monroe
Hearth repairs carry our workmanship warranty and our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
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.
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.
Repair or alteration
Replacing broken tiles with new ones on the same base is a repair. Changing the size, the thickness, the outline or the height of the hearth extension is an alteration of the fireplace, and it deserves more planning. The difference matters because an alteration has to meet the rules for the new size as well as match the old look.
Which one your project is gets settled first. For an alteration, we explain what it involves at the opening, how it meets the floor and whether any approval is needed for the work, before materials are ordered. Keeping the two apart in the quote also lets you compare prices fairly, since an alteration involves more work at the opening and at the floor.
A hearth used as a shelf
A fireplace that is rarely lit often becomes a display shelf, with planters, stone pieces or heavy decor on the hearth. The hearth is built to carry weight, but concentrated loads, dropped items and water from plant pots all leave marks. Metal planters and pot saucers can also leave rust marks that sink into porous stone.
If a crack appeared after something heavy was placed or dropped, tell us, since it points to impact and helps with the diagnosis. Water rings and mineral stains from plants can often be cleaned, and we check that no water has worked under loose tiles.
