Hearth repair specialists for New Malibu fireplaces

Measuring the opening decides the rest of the plan

Every size question on a hearth goes back to the fireplace opening, meaning its width, its height and whether its bottom sits at floor height or above it. Those three numbers decide which thickness and which extension size the code expects.

Our specialists take them at the start of the visit and write them on the estimate, so the plan for the hearth is tied to your fireplace instead of a generic drawing.

• Width of the opening across the front
• Height from the firebox floor to the top of the opening
• Height of the firebox floor above the extension
• Depth and width of the existing extension

Where the hearth meets the finished floor

The edge between a hearth extension and the room's floor takes traffic and shows every mismatch in height. A new finish that is thicker or thinner than the old one changes that edge.

We plan the transition before ordering material, choosing a flush edge, a small bevel or a trim piece suited to the materials on each side. The goal is an edge that does not catch toes or collect ash, and a clear line where the protected area ends.

• A flush edge
• A small bevel
• A trim piece suited to both materials

Telling soot stains from real cracks

Soot and ash settle into fine surface lines, and a dirty hearth can look cracked when it is only stained. The reverse also happens, with grime hiding an open crack or a hollow tile.

We clean a test area before judging the hearth, then tap and check the finish. You get a repair list for real damage and simple cleaning advice for the marks that wash away.

• Test area cleaned first
• Tiles tapped and checked
• Real damage on the repair list
• Cleaning advice for marks that wash away

Sealing natural stone after a repair

Natural stone hearths, from slate to limestone, absorb liquids and ash residue unless the surface is sealed. A repair that replaces a few pieces can leave new stone looking lighter or darker than the old.

We clean and prepare the surrounding stone so the repair blends, then apply a sealer suited to the stone and the location if you want one. We also tell you how to clean it, since some cleaners etch stone and undo the work.