Loose tiles and cracked hearths fixed in Morningside Park

Closing the gap where the fireplace meets the hearth

Where a factory-built unit meets its hearth extension, one maker's instructions call for the gap between the fireplace frame and the extension to be sealed with a noncombustible material. An open seam there is a path for embers toward the floor structure.

Grout that has fallen out of that joint, or a caulk never meant for the location, turns up often on hearth visits. We clear the seam, reseal it with a suitable noncombustible material and note the work on your invoice.

A crack that runs across several tiles

A crack that jumps from tile to tile in a straight or stepped line usually follows something underneath, such as a crack in the slab, a joint between two pours or a change in support. Tile seldom breaks in a line on its own.

We trace that line to its source before choosing a repair. Replacing the tiles along it without dealing with the base produces a neat hearth that shows the same line again later. The estimate explains what we found and what each option addresses.

• A crack in the slab below
• A joint between two concrete pours
• A change in support under the hearth
• Movement at the firebox seam

Cracks after furniture or a heavy load

A dropped television, a slid piano or a moved cabinet can crack hearth tile in a single moment. Impact cracks usually radiate from one point, which makes them easy to tell apart from cracks caused by the base.

Impact damage over a solid base is usually a tile replacement. We still check the base under the point of impact, because a hard enough blow can crack the bed too, and it is better to find that before the new tile goes down.

A yearly look at the hearth

NFPA 211 puts chimneys, fireplaces and vents on a yearly inspection. The hearth is part of the fireplace, and a yearly look catches loose tiles and open joints while they are small.

Between visits, a quick check at home helps. Look for tiles that rock, grout that has fallen out, a gap at the firebox edge and marks on the floor past the extension, and mention any of them when you book.

• Tiles that rock
• Missing grout
• A gap at the firebox edge
• Marks on the floor past the extension