Cracked hearths repaired and rebuilt in Lake Shore Village

Condominium and association hearths

In a condominium or a community with an association, the hearth may belong to a unit that shares walls, chimneys or rules about visible changes.

We suggest checking with the association before choosing a new finish. The repair itself follows the fireplace and the code, and our written scope gives the association a clear description of what will change and what will stay.

• Association rules checked first
• A written scope for approval
• The repair itself follows the fireplace and the code

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.

Checking hearth support from below

In houses with access under the floor, the support under a hearth can be seen from below, including the masonry or concrete that carries it and the framing around it. That view often explains a crack faster than any amount of looking from above.

Where access exists, we look before opening the hearth. Where it does not, we open the smallest area that will answer the question, and we tell you in advance how that opening will be closed.

Broken corner pieces on a hearth

Corners and the ends of edge pieces take hard knocks, and they are often the first parts of a hearth to break. A broken corner can expose the setting bed and let ash and moisture into the joint.

We cut out the broken piece cleanly and replace it with a matching corner or edge unit. Where the old profile is no longer made, we suggest a replacement shape for both corners so the hearth stays symmetrical.