Cracked hearths repaired and rebuilt in Belle Isle

Hearths that are used as a seat or a step

A raised hearth often doubles as a seat, or as a step up to the mantel shelf. That use puts concentrated weight on the edge, which is exactly where thin tops and unsupported corners crack.

The residential code expects hearths to be reinforced to carry their own weight and all imposed loads. When we rebuild a hearth the family sits on, we plan the support for that use and tell you what the finished edge is built to take.

Sealing natural stone after a repair

Natural stone hearths, from slate to limestone, absorb liquids and ash residue unless the surface is sealed. A repair that replaces a few pieces can leave new stone looking lighter or darker than the old.

We clean and prepare the surrounding stone so the repair blends, then apply a sealer suited to the stone and the location if you want one. We also tell you how to clean it, since some cleaners etch stone and undo the work.

Waiting before the first fire after a repair

Setting beds, mortar and grout need time to cure before they meet heat. Each product's maker publishes its own curing directions, and a fire lit too soon can crack fresh work.

We tell you when the fireplace can be used again, based on the materials used, and write it on your invoice. If you need the fireplace by a certain date, mention it at booking so the schedule leaves room for the cure.

• Setting bed cure
• Grout cure
• Sealer cure on natural stone
• The date written on your invoice

Hearth finishes in metal or glass

Some modern hearths use sheet metal, glass tile or a solid glass panel set on a noncombustible base. They look clean and show scratches, chips and loose edges plainly.

Repairs start with identifying the product, since glass and metal finishes come in specific sizes and thicknesses. We confirm the base under them and replace damaged panels or tiles with matching material, sealed and edged to suit the fireplace.

• Product identified
• Base confirmed
• Damaged panels or tiles replaced to match
• Edges sealed and finished