Fireplace Repair

Getting the hearth right in Winter Springs

The hearth inspection is free, and the repair is explained before any material is ordered.

Checks made on a hearth inspection

A hearth inspection covers more than the crack you called about. On every visit our technicians look at the items below and note what they find.

You get the findings and a written price for each repair, with necessary work kept apart from optional changes. The measurements go into your written record for future reference.

  • Type of fireplace, masonry or factory-built
  • Surface finish and any loose, hollow or cracked pieces
  • Thickness of the extension and the height of the firebox floor
  • How far the extension reaches in front and to each side
  • Support under the hearth where it can be seen
  • Gaps at the fireplace face and the floor edge
  • Distance from flooring and trim to the opening
  • The join between the hearth and the firebox floor

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.

Getting ready for the hearth visit

Before we arrive, let the fireplace cool and clear the hearth of screens, tools, baskets and decorations. There is no need to lift a tile or chip at a crack to prepare. If the hearth is under a rug or furniture, move it aside so the whole surface can be seen.

Tell us what you have noticed, when it started and whether the fireplace has been used since. If you still have the original tile or stone, or know the product name, mention it, since it makes matching far easier. If the damage appeared after a specific event, such as a dropped log, heavy rain or new flooring, that detail often points straight to the cause.

Measurements before materials

Every hearth quote starts with a tape measure. We record the width and height of the opening, the depth and width of the extension, its thickness and the height of the firebox floor above it. We also note the material of the adjoining floor and how the two currently meet.

Those numbers decide which rules apply, how much material is needed and whether the existing extension can simply be resurfaced. They also go into your written record, so the next person to work on the fireplace starts from facts. Measuring first also shows whether a new finish of a different thickness will change the height where the hearth meets your floor.