Hearth tile and stone repair in Winter Garden

Finding tile that matches an older hearth

The hardest part of many hearth repairs is the match. Tile lines are discontinued, glazes change and even the same product shifts shade between batches.

We start by asking whether spare tiles were left from the original job, since leftovers in an attic or garage often solve the problem. Without them, we show you the closest available options, or suggest a deliberate contrast such as a border that makes the repair look planned.

• Leftover tiles from the original job
• The closest tile available today
• A planned border or contrast band
• A full new finish when nothing fits

A hearth rug is an extra layer on top of the hearth

Fire-resistant hearth rugs sit on a hearth or on the floor in front of it. They catch ash and small sparks, yet the code's size rule is written for the hearth extension itself, built of noncombustible material on noncombustible support.

If a rug is covering a short or damaged extension, we recommend repairing the extension and treating the rug as an extra. We point out, too, when a rug is hiding cracks that belong on the repair list.

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

Protecting the room during hearth repair

Hearth work happens in the middle of a living space. Cutting tile and breaking out old setting beds makes dust, and heavy material has to cross your floors.

Our crew lays protection from the door to the fireplace, contains the work area and cleans up at the end of each visit. We tell you in advance which days will be noisy and dusty, so the household can plan around them.

• Floor protection from door to fireplace
• A contained work area
• Cleanup at the end of each visit
• Notice of the noisy and dusty days