Hearth repair specialists for Malibu Groves fireplaces

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.

Hot ashes and the hearth finish

Ash shoveled out of the firebox can hold hot cinders after the fire looks finished. One maker's manual has owners carry ashes out in a lidded metal container that closes tightly, and set it down on the ground or a noncombustible floor, far from anything that can burn.

A bucket on the hearth sits on a noncombustible surface, though its heat can still mark some finishes. If an ash container has left rings or cracks, we include those tiles in the repair and suggest a spot for the bucket that the finish can take.

Fire tools and grates that chip the hearth

Pokers, shovels and log grabbers get dropped. A heavy grate slid across the opening drags on the edge where the firebox floor meets the extension. Over a few seasons those small impacts add up to chipped glaze and cracked edge pieces.

We repair the damaged pieces and suggest simple changes, such as a tool stand placed off the edge and a pad under the log carrier, that keep the new finish looking new.

Cleaning a hearth without damaging it

Ash, soot and spills are part of a working hearth. Acidic cleaners can etch marble and limestone, abrasive pads scratch glazed tile, and harsh products can wash out grout color.

After a repair we leave you with cleaning advice for your specific finish, including what to avoid. A gentle routine keeps the new work looking the way it did on the day we finished.

• No acidic cleaners on marble or limestone
• No abrasive pads on glazed tile
• Gentle products that keep grout color