Fireplace hearth repair by local pros in Vista East

Wood left under a hearth from the original build

Hearths were often poured over wooden forms, and the code is plain about what should happen afterward. Section R1001.9 says combustible material shall not remain against the underside of hearths and hearth extensions after construction.

Sometimes a repair reveals boards or plywood still in place under the slab. That finding changes the job from a surface fix to a support fix. We show you what was found, explain the options for removing it or rebuilding the extension on proper support, and wait for your approval before going further.

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

When a flooring job cut the hearth back

New flooring projects sometimes trim or remove part of a hearth extension to make the new floor fit. The finished room looks tidy, and the extension quietly ends up shorter than the fireplace needs.

We measure the extension against the opening, compare it with the size rule and show you any shortfall. The fix may be extending the hearth into the new floor, with the flooring trimmed back and finished around it by whoever installed it.

• Extension measured against the opening
• Shortfall shown on the estimate
• Hearth extended into the floor
• Flooring trimmed and finished around it

Reinforcement in a rebuilt hearth extension

Section R1001.9 requires hearths and extensions to be reinforced to carry their own weight and all imposed loads. On a rebuild, that reinforcement is designed into the new slab from the start.

We describe the base construction on the estimate, including its support and reinforcement, so you know the new extension is built as a structural part of the fireplace and more than a decorative pad.

• Noncombustible support under the slab
• Reinforcement for its own weight
• Capacity for the loads it will carry