How To Repair A Fireplace Hearth

Fireplace & Hearth Harm, Cracks, Settlement or Collapse
Inspection & Repair of Damaged Fireplaces & Hearths

• Mail service a QUESTION or COMMENT about inspecting, diagnosing, & repairing fireplace damage from settlement, cracks, masonry motion

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Fireplaces & hearth damage, cracks, settlement, & other fire hazards:

This commodity describes masonry fireplace impairment, cracks, settlement, and burn down hazards and suggests inspection points and some repair procedures. We also link to other fireplace and chimney-fire safety articles and advice. At page top: our photograph shows the collapse into the room of a poorly-secured forest frame around a masonry fireplace.

This article serial provides information most masonry fireplaces, including inspection for harm/hazards (cracks and gaps that appear at masonry fireplaces due to chimney or fireplace settlement or motion), fireplace chimney sizing requirements, draft bug, chimney safety, creosote bug, inserts, and other topics.

We also provide an Article INDEX for this topic, or y'all can try the page top or lesser SEARCH BOX as a quick way to detect information yous need.

Masonry Fireplace Specifications, Safety Hazards, Recommendations

The burned wood floor in front end of the fireplace shown hither is a sweet example of why building codes and burn experts require a masonry hearth of adequate dimensions at the forepart of a fireplace.

Watch out: while this article discusses fireplace dangers & burn risks related to cracks or settlement in the fireplace chimney, the near common fire hazard associated with fireplaces is a chimney fire caused past the ignition of accumlulated creosote in the fireplace chimney flue.

[Click to overstate whatsoever paradigm]

Meet CHIMNEY Burn down Activeness / PREVENTION
and
See CHIMNEY CLEANING Process

Fireplace Impairment and Unsafe Hearths due to Chimney or Fireplace Settlement

Why are gaps at fireplace fireboxes, hearths, or other components a dangerous fire take a chance? What should you lot do about them?

Exercise not use a fireplace that is in any doubt virtually prophylactic before it has been inspected by a professional. Our photo (higher up) shows a fireplace mantel that complanate and fell into the room. Fume stains revealed on the brick might bespeak to a chimney draft problem as well.

The fireplace schematic (in a higher place) shows the basic components of a masonry fireplace and their names. This drawing is obsolete in that information technology is missing a combustion air supply for the fireplace.

These articles on chimneys and chimney safety provide detailed suggestions describing how to perform a thorough visual inspection of chimneys for safety and other defects. Chimney inspection methods and chimney repair methods are besides discussed.

Carson Dunlop Acquaintance's sketch given below shows a cross section of the basic components of a chimney where a fireplace is installed. Carson Dunlop Associates is a Toronto domicile inspection & pedagogy house.

[Click to enlarge any image]

Beginning with the outside inspection of the chimneys and structure, and standing indoors, nosotros check for a wide range of possible chimney hazards. Among these are bug surrounding chimney movement, settlement, or separation from the building.

Likewise ofttimes nosotros detect that a edifice owner was enlightened that a chimney has moved, s/he has patched the gap betwixt the chimney and the building, but s/he has not realized that the movement causes cracks and gaps inside the chimney or fireplace which are very unsafe.

Below nosotros provide three photographs showing how a fireplace tin become a fire hazard due to chimney settlement or inadequate support of the fireplace itself.

We start with a await at the fireplace hearth for testify of movement.

Caulk is Not a Safe Repair for Hearth Settlement

In an easy-to-spot case of movement and separation between a fireplace hearth and the edifice floor take a expect at the white caulk installed in an open up crack between the hearth face and the floor in our photo (left).

A bit more investigating was needed to determine whether the floor was sagging away from a stable masonry fireplace and chimney or whether the chimney and unabridged firebox were leaning away from the building.

Cracks Can Show Settlement of The Fireplace Burn-Box and Chimney OR Hearth Settlement

In the side by side example, just below, the gaps and cracks made it obvious that the chimney and fireplace were tipping away from the building in a dangerous condition.

First at higher up left nosotros see a gap that has opened up between the fireplace floor and the hearth (to a higher place-left). Sparks may fall into this space, causing a building fire.

2d (above correct) our photo shows a crack betwixt the face of the fireplace and the fireplace box itself. We don't know without more analysis whether the brick facing has fallen away from a sound and safe fireplace or whether the fireplace has moved away from the facing.

Cracks & Gaps Mean an Unsafe Fireplace

Our third fireplace damage photo (above) is the terminal nail in the coffin of this unfortunate fireplace.

A gap has opened in the fireplace below the chimney where the damper was cemented in place. There has been substantial movement of the fireplace itself (and probably the chimney too) - this is an unsafe fireplace that should not be used.

But not using the fireplace is non enough to be sure this home doesn't have another fire or glue gas gamble.

If a fireplace and chimney have settled and thus have become unsafe, we demand to make up one's mind correct away if whatever other building appliances such equally a banality, furnace, water heater, or woodstove are using other flues in the aforementioned chimney.

If the chimney has multiple users it is unsafe for all of them.

Picket out: At PYROLYSIS EXPLAINED we document a Phil Hansey fireplace design that set the author's house ablaze on New Years' Eve in 1969. Gaps in the fireplace exposed wood to heat from the burn down, eventually setting the firm wall on fire. Dan Martin passed me a fire extinguisher as he asked "Is your wall supposed to glow like that?"

at FIREPLACE HEARTH DIMENSIONS & Back up we illustrate adding support beneath a sagging fireplace hearth.

Lookout out: in improver to cracks and gaps that mean estrus and sparks can set a building on fire, cracks and gaps in masonry chimneys and fireplaces could presage a dangerous chimney collapse.

See these articles on chimney collapse hazards:

• CHIMNEY COLLAPSE HAZARDS & Chimney Back up & Bracing Requirements
• Divide OPENINGS in Brick Chimneys & Chimney Plummet Risk - case of an imminent catastrophic chimney collapse

Fireplace Burn Hazards: Carpeting besides Close to Fireplace

Carpets and other combustibles need to be kept away from the fireplace front and hearth.

Often where the hearth sits at floor level we find that someone has installed rug right up to the fireplace - a fire risk every bit our customer is remarking in our photograph (above).More unsafe hearths and inadequate clearance from fireplaces or wood or coal stoves are shown

at Burn down CLEARANCES, WOOD COAL & PELLET STOVES.

Reader Q&A - besides run across the FAQs series linked-to beneath

@Catherine Sherlock, I'll be glad to endeavor to assist, but need to know what you want or what question you have.

Scout out: From clicking to enlarge your photograph I see many burns on a wood or parquet floor that looks in poor condition; there could be a fire gamble; certainly yous should not use the firepalce before both fireplace and the entire chimney and flue are inspected for condom. A professional, certified chimney sweep ought to exist able to give you that information.

D

Picket out: before attempting any repair to the fireplace hearth

one. stop using the fireplace immediately and don't use it until it'southward inspected and repaired

2. accept the chimney and flues inspected for safety, especially if the same chimney carries other flues such equally for your dwelling house heating banality, furnace, h2o heater - every bit motility in a hearth can stress, crack, damage other chimney components making the chimney unsafe, risking fire or carbon monoxide poisoning

iii. be sure you accept working CO and smoke detectors at present.

It might be necessary to remove floor and install masonry supported from below, but that said, there are other repair options and I would not specify ane earlier understanding the blazon of fireplace and its materials and the damage already done. I would not only lay a marble or other after-market "hearth" onto an existing flooring. The burn down hazards include sparks that fall through a crack or gap onto combustibles and oestrus manual combined with pyrolysis to hazard a later ignition of the floor or surrounding structure.

Also have a expect at

FIREPLACE HEARTH DIMENSIONS & Support

It appears our living room hearth was not built on a cement pad. The hearth is now pulling abroad from the fireplace---gap is about three/four inch now. This fireplace is on our offset floor with some other fire place directly beneath in the basement which was built correctly.. How can fix the 1 not built on a cement pad? Should we just tear it out?

House is ii feet off ground, same with fire place floor. Not sure what held up concrete flooring

had a 5kw forest burner stove fitted 3 years ago. Accept now noticed some major cracking of the plaster surround and also movement in the heatth. The plaster also feels slightly damp to touch.

Danny

What are the hearth materials, and how is the hearth supported. You may be able to use a concrete repair epoxy if it's masonry AND if the hearth is supported safely and adequately.

corner of fireplace hearth broke off. how can i repair?

Question: fireplace "avalanched" into the living room

The front end of my son'southward fireplace avalanched into his livingroom. The exterior of the chimney looks nifty.

We're waiting for engineer's written report and how much of this insurance volition comprehend. We doubtable they will cover simply the portion that has - abruptly- collapsed.

The contractor does not want to repair only the interior so take responsibility for the unabridged chimney. He thinks it is safest to replace the unabridged chimney/fireplace.

At present we're looking for a second contractor to become a second opinion. What an expensive mess. Any communication is appreciated. - Barbara Holub 2022/02/07

Reply:

Barbara:

I'm not sure that the entire chimney needs to be replaced only I can absolutely hold that if I were the contractor called to this job,

• i await at the sloppy masonry exposed in your photo,
• the apparent lack of a lintel across the fireplace opening,
• the apparent absence of proper masonry ties securing the veneer of the fireplace to the cake chimney structure,
• the cockeyed blockwork,
• and perhaps other details that can be observed on-site

all point to an amateur chimney stonemason whose work is at least questionable.

As a contractor I'd not be willing to accept responsibleness for piece of work that I did non perform myself and that worse, is mostly non visible.

1. What are the country and urban center of the domicile, when was it built, and who congenital this chimmney and fireplace?
2. Outside are there signs of chimney movement, leaning, swell, settlement, footing defects?
3. In the chimney has the flue been inspected for integrity, damage, sealing, alighment, materials, by a certified chimney sweep?
4. Has anyone run a chimscan camera through the flue?
5. Is at that place a basement or crawl space that might give clues to the chimney ground depth?
6. Are there photos from time of construction of the chimney?

...

Proceed reading at FIREPLACE INSERTS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE Alphabetize.

Or see FIREPLACE & HEARTH Harm FAQs - questions & answers posted originally at this page

Or come across these

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• CHIMNEY CLEANOUT DOORS
• CHIMNEY Fire Activeness / PREVENTION
• CHIMNEY FLUE INSPECTION Camera
• CHIMNEY Typhoon & Operation
• COMBUSTION AIR DEFECTS
• CREOSOTE DEPOSITS, Fire HAZARD
• FIREPLACE CHIMNEY ROOF CLEARANCE
• FIREPLACE & WOODSTOVE CONTAMINANTS
• FIREPLACE DAMPER DEFECTS, REPAIRS
• FIREPLACE FLUE SIZE SPECIFICATIONS
• FIREPLACE HEARTH DIMENSIONS & SUPPORT
• FIREPLACE INSERTS
• FIREPLACE INSPECTIONS
• FIREPLACE INSPECTION PRE-FAB
• FIREPLACE DAMAGE & Dangerous HEARTHS
• GAS FIREPLACES & GAS LOGS - home
• GAS FIREPLACE VENT CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS
• GAS FIREPLACE CERAMIC STAINS
• INACCESSIBLE CONNECTIONS FIREPLACE, WOODSTOVE
• RUMFORD FIREPLACE DESIGN RULES
• PYROLYSIS EXPLAINED
• WOOD Called-for FIREPLACE ROOF CLEARANCE

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FIREPLACE DAMAGE & Dangerous HEARTHS at AuditApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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