Hearth repair specialists for Clarcona fireplaces

Inner hearth and hearth extension are two different floors

The inner hearth is the floor of the firebox itself, where the fire sits. The hearth extension starts at the opening and reaches into the room. They are built from different materials and fail for different reasons, so we name which one is damaged before writing a scope.

Cracked firebrick on the firebox floor belongs with firebox repair, since that floor takes direct flame. Loose tile, a cracked slab or a short apron in front of the opening is hearth repair. When both need work, the estimate lists them as separate lines so you can see what each part of the job fixes.

Cracks in a poured concrete hearth

A poured concrete hearth, bare or stained, can develop shrinkage cracks early on and structural cracks later. The first kind usually stays fine and narrow. The second kind widens, steps or comes with a height change across the crack.

We read the crack before treating it. A narrow, stable crack can be cleaned and filled to match the surface. A crack with movement or a height change sends the job back to the support question, and the estimate shows both options when both are possible.

A hearth in a fireplace that has sat unused

A fireplace left unused for years often has a hearth that became a shelf, a plant stand or a spot for a television. Loose tiles and cracks can go unnoticed under those objects.

Before the first fire in a long time, we clear the extension, check the finish and the base, and confirm the size against the opening. Any repairs go on a written list, and chimney and firebox checks are scheduled as their own service if they are due.

• Extension cleared and checked
• Finish tapped and looked over
• Size confirmed against the opening
• Chimney and firebox checks booked separately if due

Checking the thickness of an existing hearth

Thickness is hard to see once a hearth is finished. A chipped edge, a removed tile or a small test opening shows what lies below the surface and how deep the solid material goes.

We check depth where damage has already opened the surface before cutting anything new. The measurement goes into the estimate beside the code minimum for your fireplace, so the recommendation rests on what is actually there.

• Depth checked at existing damage
• Compared with the code minimum
• Result written into the estimate