Hearth repair specialists for Horizon West fireplaces

Wood left under a hearth from the original build

Hearths were often poured over wooden forms, and the code is plain about what should happen afterward. Section R1001.9 says combustible material shall not remain against the underside of hearths and hearth extensions after construction.

Sometimes a repair reveals boards or plywood still in place under the slab. That finding changes the job from a surface fix to a support fix. We show you what was found, explain the options for removing it or rebuilding the extension on proper support, and wait for your approval before going further.

Replacing one cracked tile on a sound hearth

A single cracked tile over a solid base is the simplest hearth repair. The tile is cut out without disturbing its neighbors, the old setting bed is scraped back, and a replacement is set flush and grouted to match.

Everything depends on that base being sound. Before promising a one-tile repair, we check the tiles around it and the base under it. If the crack came from movement below, a new tile would only crack again, and we tell you that before you pay for it.

Chipped edges on a raised hearth

A raised hearth has exposed front corners and a long top edge, and those take the knocks from fire tools, firewood and furniture. Chips there are mostly cosmetic, though a broken corner can leave sharp edges and let moisture into the joint.

Small chips can be dressed and filled with a material that suits the hearth finish. A broken corner piece is cut out and replaced. We show you both options on the estimate with the visible result of each.

Heat marks on the floor beyond the hearth

Discolored wood, shrunken vinyl or a scorched rug just past the hearth edge tell a story. Heat or embers are reaching further than the extension covers.

We compare the marks with the measured extension and the opening size. The answer may be a larger extension, a change in how the screen or doors are used, or both. You get a written explanation of the cause before any repair is proposed.

• Discolored or cupped wood
• Shrunken or softened vinyl
• Scorched rug fibers
• Marks right at the hearth edge