Your fireplace hearth, repaired and measured in Lake Davis/Greenwood

The 2-inch rule for a hearth extension

Hearth extensions in front of a masonry fireplace need to be at least 2 inches thick under section R1001.9.2. The extension is concrete or masonry on noncombustible supports, with reinforcement for its own weight and whatever loads it sees.

A thin layer of tile set straight onto a subfloor does not meet that description. If a past remodel replaced the original extension with something thinner, the repair becomes a question of rebuilding the extension correctly. We explain that difference in writing before quoting any finish.

Repairing a marble hearth

Marble takes a polish well and shows every repair clearly. Its veining makes a perfect match rare, and its surface can etch or stain from ash and household cleaners.

On a marble hearth we separate cosmetic work, such as honing out marks, from repair work, such as re-bedding a cracked piece or replacing a broken section. The estimate names which one you are buying, so the result matches what you expect to see.

• Honing out marks and etching
• Re-bedding a cracked piece
• Replacing a broken section
• Sealing and cleaning advice

Slate hearth tiles that flake or split

Slate splits in layers, and on a hearth those layers can begin to lift at the edges of a tile. A flaking surface catches ash, looks worn and gets worse under foot traffic.

Light flaking can sometimes be trimmed back and sealed. Tiles coming apart deeper are replaced. Because slate varies from lot to lot, we discuss color and thickness before ordering, so the new tiles sit flush with the old ones.

• Light flaking trimmed and sealed
• Deeper splits replaced
• New tiles matched for color and thickness

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.