Cracked hearths repaired and rebuilt in Dover Manor

Tiles that sound hollow when tapped

Tapping a hearth with a small tool tells a lot. A firmly set tile gives a sharp sound, while a tile that has lost its bond to the bed sounds dull and hollow even when it looks perfect.

Hollow tiles tend to crack at the corners or pop loose when someone steps on an edge. We map them during the visit, count how many have let go and use that count to decide whether spot resetting will hold or the finish needs to come up.

• A sharp sound over a firmly set tile
• A dull, hollow note over a loose one
• Hollow corners that crack first
• A count that decides spot reset or full replacement

Small burn pits on the hearth surface

Tiny dark pits or glaze burns on a tiled hearth usually mark where embers landed and cooled. On many finishes they are cosmetic, and they show the extension doing its job.

Where the marks bother you, individual tiles can be replaced. If burn marks sit right at the outer edge of the extension, we also check whether it reaches far enough, since that edge should be well clear of where embers come to rest.

Cracks after furniture or a heavy load

A dropped television, a slid piano or a moved cabinet can crack hearth tile in a single moment. Impact cracks usually radiate from one point, which makes them easy to tell apart from cracks caused by the base.

Impact damage over a solid base is usually a tile replacement. We still check the base under the point of impact, because a hard enough blow can crack the bed too, and it is better to find that before the new tile goes down.

Hearth repairs for rental properties

Owners and managers of rental homes often see a hearth only between tenants. By then a small crack may have grown, and a new tenant is due to move in.

We work to a clear written scope that separates safety items from cosmetic ones, so owners can decide what must be done now and what can wait. Access arranged through a manager works well, as long as someone can confirm the scope before work starts.