Local hearth repair for Lake Whippoorwill homes

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.

When the front edge of the hearth drops

A hearth extension whose front edge has sunk below the floor, or tipped away from the fireplace, has lost support somewhere. The finish often cracks along the line where the slab bends.

Our specialists check whether the drop is still moving, how far it reaches and what carries the slab. Depending on the answer, the fix may be to re-support and reset the existing extension or to remove it and build a new one on proper noncombustible support.

• Whether the drop is still moving
• How far along the edge it runs
• What carries the slab underneath
• Whether re-support or a rebuild fits

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.

When the firebox floor needs work too

Cracked firebrick in the floor of the firebox, loose units at the back of the opening or open joints in the firebox walls often appear alongside hearth damage.

Those items belong with firebox repair and are written as their own lines. Doing both in one visit can save time, and keeping them separate on the estimate lets you see what each part of the fireplace needs.

• Cracked firebrick in the firebox floor
• Loose units at the back of the opening
• Open joints in the firebox walls