Loose tiles and cracked hearths fixed in Rock Springs Ridge

How far the extension reaches in front and to the sides

Section R1001.10 sets the size. A hearth extension reaches at least 16 inches in front of the fireplace opening and at least 8 inches beyond each side of it. Those figures apply to openings smaller than 6 square feet.

We measure your existing extension against the opening, then mark where it meets or misses the rule. A hearth that looks generous can still be short at one side, and a narrow apron often explains why floor finishes near the fireplace carry heat marks.

A hearth extension you can tell apart from the floor

For factory-built fireplaces the same code section adds a practical rule. The hearth extension shall be readily distinguishable from the surrounding floor area. A tile that blends perfectly into the room's flooring can leave the protected area hard to see.

When a repair calls for new material, we help you choose a finish or a border that marks where the extension ends. It keeps furniture, rugs and storage off the zone that is there to catch heat and embers.

The metal strip under the front of some fireplaces

Some factory-built fireplaces ship with an ember protector, a strip of galvanized sheet metal placed between the hearth extension and the bottom front edge of the unit. One maker's manual says it goes in before the fireplace is secured, to stop glowing embers from falling through that joint.

When a hearth is replaced, that strip can be bent, cut short or left out entirely. We check for it during removal and replace it with the maker's part or the specified sheet metal before the new finish closes the joint.

White deposits on a brick hearth

White, powdery deposits on brick or grout are salts carried to the surface by moisture. On a hearth they point to water somewhere, whether a spill that soaked in, a leak above the fireplace or damp rising from below.

We note where the deposits sit and follow the moisture back to its source. Cleaning them off is easy, and keeping them away depends on stopping the water. If the source is a roof or chimney leak, that repair is scheduled separately and the hearth is finished after it.

• A spill that soaked in
• Water from a chimney or roof leak
• Damp rising from below