Hearth extension repair done right in Taft

Inner hearth and hearth extension are two different floors

The inner hearth is the floor of the firebox itself, where the fire sits. The hearth extension starts at the opening and reaches into the room. They are built from different materials and fail for different reasons, so we name which one is damaged before writing a scope.

Cracked firebrick on the firebox floor belongs with firebox repair, since that floor takes direct flame. Loose tile, a cracked slab or a short apron in front of the opening is hearth repair. When both need work, the estimate lists them as separate lines so you can see what each part of the job fixes.

Tiles that sound hollow when tapped

Tapping a hearth with a small tool tells a lot. A firmly set tile gives a sharp sound, while a tile that has lost its bond to the bed sounds dull and hollow even when it looks perfect.

Hollow tiles tend to crack at the corners or pop loose when someone steps on an edge. We map them during the visit, count how many have let go and use that count to decide whether spot resetting will hold or the finish needs to come up.

• A sharp sound over a firmly set tile
• A dull, hollow note over a loose one
• Hollow corners that crack first
• A count that decides spot reset or full replacement

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

What the free hearth inspection covers

The free inspection is a real look at the hearth. We tap the finish, measure the opening and the extension, check the edges and the seam at the firebox, and look at the base wherever damage has already opened it.

You get the findings in plain words and a written estimate with upfront pricing. There is no charge for the visit, and you take 10% off if you book the repair within 72 hours after it.

• Finish tapped for hollow spots
• Opening and extension measured
• Edges and the firebox seam checked
• Base looked at where damage allows