Local hearth repair for Winter Park homes

What sits under the hearth matters as much as the tile

Section R1001.9 has hearths and hearth extensions built of concrete or masonry, resting on noncombustible supports, with reinforcement for their own weight plus every load placed on them. The support keeps a heavy slab from settling and keeps heat away from the structure below.

A finish repair over weak support tends to crack again along the same line. When a crack pattern points to the base, we open enough of the hearth to see it and give you the support repair and the surface repair as two separate prices.

When the whole hearth finish should be replaced

Replacing the whole finish makes sense when many tiles are hollow, the matching tile is gone, or the extension has to grow to meet the size rule anyway. It also gives a chance to rebuild any layers the original job left out.

Full replacement is a bigger scope and a bigger visual change, so we only suggest it with a reason. The estimate lists removal, base preparation, the new finish, the edges and trim, and any flooring that has to be adjusted around the new extension.

• Removal and disposal
• Base preparation or rebuild
• New finish and setting materials
• Edges, trim and floor transitions

Fitting hearth work into a remodel

During a living room remodel, the hearth is often the last thing planned and the first thing damaged. Flooring, paint and furniture all meet the hearth, and every trade wants its edge finished first.

We suggest settling the hearth plan before the flooring is ordered, covering its size, height and material and who finishes which edge. That order keeps the extension to size and avoids cutting new floorboards twice.

• Hearth size settled first
• Finish height agreed
• Edges assigned to one trade
• Flooring ordered afterward

A yearly look at the hearth

NFPA 211 puts chimneys, fireplaces and vents on a yearly inspection. The hearth is part of the fireplace, and a yearly look catches loose tiles and open joints while they are small.

Between visits, a quick check at home helps. Look for tiles that rock, grout that has fallen out, a gap at the firebox edge and marks on the floor past the extension, and mention any of them when you book.

• Tiles that rock
• Missing grout
• A gap at the firebox edge
• Marks on the floor past the extension