Cracked Slate Hearth Repair

Replacing an entire slate fireplace surround can be quite an expensive investment, so if the damage on your fireplace surrounds is not serious, you should consider repairing it instead of going for a replacement. It is not difficult to repair slate fireplace surrounds, so if you want to save money, follow the simple steps below to do the job yourself. Step 1 – Clean the Area Clean the surrounds of your fireplace using a damp cloth. Make sure that you remove all the dirt and grime from the surface of the surround before you start making repairs.

His advice was that the floor is not completely flat and because we used slate, which is a 'natural stone' and has imperfections, it has cracked under the weight. Looking at it now, I can see there is a gap of about 6 or 7mm under the front left corner, and the hearth is 'floating' unsupported, whereas the back.

Driver Slim Portable Dvd Writer Samsung. After wiping the surrounds of the fireplace, let it dry completely before you continue working on it. While waiting for the surrounds to dry up, push away the furniture surrounding your fireplace and then cover the floor near the fireplace with old newspapers. The old newspapers should be able to protect your floor from stains as you work on the fireplace surrounds. Step 2 – Remove and Replace the Damage Slate Tiles If some of the slate tiles are damaged beyond repair, you need to remove these tiles and replace them with new ones.

You need to replace these tiles before you repair the minor problems on the slate surrounds. To remove the damaged tiles, use a flexible flat heat putty knife to remove damaged slate tiles from your fireplace surrounds. Be careful not to drive your knife too deep into the walls of your fireplace to avoid causing further damage. After removing the damaged tiles, clean the area carefully before you install the new tiles.

To install the replacement tiles, put thinset mortar on the wall then let the material cure for about 24 hours. Curing the thinset mortar is very important to create a strong base for your tiles. After curing the thinset mortar on the wall for 24 hours, you may now install the new tiles. To do this, apply thinset mortar at the back of the replacement tiles then lay the tiles firmly on the area previously occupied the damaged tiles. Be sure that the tiles are properly installed and the thinset mortar have completely dried up before you repair the small cracks on the fireplace surrounds. Step 3 – Repair the Cracks Check the slate tiles for cracks and chips then repair these minor problems.

To do this, clean the cracks carefully and remove all lose materials around it. After cleaning the cracks, fill in the cracks with caulking materials. Using your gloved fingers, push the caulk firmly into the cracks.

Let the caulk dry completely before you sand out the rough and uneven areas. Step 4 – Apply Color Enhancing Sealer To enhance the look of your fireplace surrounds, apply color enhancing sealer on the surface of the slate tiles.

Step 5 – Finishing Up Put away all left-over materials and remove the old newspapers that you used to cover the floor.

Accidents, or just simple wear and tear, can stain, crack or chip even sturdy slate flooring. What is great with slate flooring, however, is that you can repair such damage with the help of tools and materials that can be bought easily at a hardware or home improvement store. When embarking in a repair project, consider these repair tips.

Tip 1 – Fill-in Cracks with Epoxy Glue Small cracks on slate flooring tile should be filled in immediately, to prevent further damage to the tile. This repair tip, however, is not a guarantee that the tile has been put back to its damage-free state; this is just a temporary solution. Epoxy glue comes in clear or opaque color. Color can be added to match the surface of the cracked slate tile.

Tip 2 – Repair Chips with Grout Grout protects the tiles from chipping around the edges. Sand the jagged edge of the chipped tile.

This is to create the illusion that the slate tile is naturally shaped as such, and the irregularity of its shape is just part of the stone’s unevenness in shape and texture. Buy a grout mix that matches the color of the old grout. Remove the old grout around the chipped slate (all four sides). Apply the mixed grout. The grout will fill-in the chip on the slate tile. With this procedure, you will not only repair the chip on the tile, you will also restore the grout to its pristine condition.

Tip 3 – Use Nail Polish to Color the Grout or Epoxy Glue If you were unsatisfied with the color of the grout or epoxy glue, or that color did not blend well with the stone, you can use a nail polish to color the area. Nail polish works like a tinted varnish. It can give a glossy look, as though sealer has been applied the stone. Select a color in tone and hue that is nearest to the stone’s natural color. Work on a small area to test if the color blends well with the slate’s color. If not, remove the nail polish with acetone.

Remember to apply thin coats of nail polish to achieve good color consistency. Tip 4 – Replace the Damaged Slab There are times when the damage in the slate tile cannot be repaired by a simple epoxy glue or grout. When such is the case, you have to remove the damaged slab and replace it with a new one.

This type of repair can also be done without the help of a professional. Careful attention, however, must be placed on the removal part: the damaged slab should not be forced off the floor, so as not to damage nearby tiles. Tip: chip the damaged tile on its center using a chisel and a hammer, to break away the slate tile into pieces. Tip 5 – Prep the Area Whether you plan to repair damage in your slate flooring with epoxy, grout or replace the damaged slab altogether, you have to prepare the surface for such repair activities. First, clean the area, specifically the damaged area with soap and water and allow it to dry completely. Second, strip it of sealer, paint and grease with acetone stripper. Lastly, sand the surface to ensure adhesion of epoxy, grout or mortar.