Cracked hearths repaired and rebuilt in Paradise Heights

Trim and mantels close to the opening

Hearth work often brings the surround into view. Another exception in section R1001.11 lets combustible mantels or trim sit on a masonry fireplace front only 6 inches or more from the opening, and inside the first 12 inches each inch of distance allows just 1/8 inch of projection.

Mantel rebuilding sits outside a hearth repair, yet we point out trim that sits closer than those numbers so you can decide how to handle it while the room is already under work.

Hearths on concrete slabs and on framed floors

A hearth resting on a concrete slab and one resting on a framed floor fail in different ways. On a slab, cracks tend to follow the concrete beneath. On a framed floor, deflection and damp in the framing are the usual suspects.

We identify which you have at the start, since it changes what the repair must include. Where a framed floor is involved, access from below, when the house has it, helps us judge the support without opening more of the hearth than necessary.

• On a slab, cracks follow the concrete
• On a framed floor, deflection and damp
• Access from below where the house has it

Loose or broken bricks on a brick hearth

A brick hearth loosens brick by brick. One unit rocks underfoot, the joint around it cracks, and its neighbors soon follow. Left alone, the loose units shift enough to open gaps down into the base.

We lift the loose bricks, clean the bed, reset them in fresh mortar and refill the joints to match the existing ones. Broken units are replaced with the closest available brick. If the base under them has failed, that becomes its own line on the estimate.

• Loose units lifted and cleaned
• Bed cleaned back to sound material
• Bricks reset in fresh mortar
• Joints refilled to match

Repairing a marble hearth

Marble takes a polish well and shows every repair clearly. Its veining makes a perfect match rare, and its surface can etch or stain from ash and household cleaners.

On a marble hearth we separate cosmetic work, such as honing out marks, from repair work, such as re-bedding a cracked piece or replacing a broken section. The estimate names which one you are buying, so the result matches what you expect to see.

• Honing out marks and etching
• Re-bedding a cracked piece
• Replacing a broken section
• Sealing and cleaning advice