Cracked hearths repaired and rebuilt in Andover Lakes

Measuring the opening decides the rest of the plan

Every size question on a hearth goes back to the fireplace opening, meaning its width, its height and whether its bottom sits at floor height or above it. Those three numbers decide which thickness and which extension size the code expects.

Our specialists take them at the start of the visit and write them on the estimate, so the plan for the hearth is tied to your fireplace instead of a generic drawing.

• Width of the opening across the front
• Height from the firebox floor to the top of the opening
• Height of the firebox floor above the extension
• Depth and width of the existing extension

Reinforcement in a rebuilt hearth extension

Section R1001.9 requires hearths and extensions to be reinforced to carry their own weight and all imposed loads. On a rebuild, that reinforcement is designed into the new slab from the start.

We describe the base construction on the estimate, including its support and reinforcement, so you know the new extension is built as a structural part of the fireplace and more than a decorative pad.

• Noncombustible support under the slab
• Reinforcement for its own weight
• Capacity for the loads it will carry

Matching grout color on a partial repair

New grout beside old grout rarely matches on day one. Old grout has picked up ash, cleaning products and years of foot traffic, and fresh grout dries to its true color over time.

We clean the existing grout near the repair before choosing a color, test it where it will not show and explain how close the match is likely to be. When the difference would stand out, regrouting the whole hearth gives an even result.

Scheduling hearth work around your household

A hearth repair can take more than one visit, with removal and preparation on one day, setting on another, and finishing after the materials cure.

We give you the sequence and the expected number of visits before starting, and we keep the fireplace area safe to walk past between visits. If the household has a date to work around, tell us at booking and we plan backward from it.

• Removal and preparation
• Setting the new finish
• Curing
• Final finishing and cleanup