Fireplace hearth small improper cracked : Safety considerations require at least 1 to 20 inches of hearth in front of the fireplace and 6 to 12 inches on each side. Sometimes even this is not enough if you have no fire-screen and build fires using wood that pops and crackles (which they all seem to do). Damaged or cracked hearths are usually cosmetic. The hearth can be any fireproof material such as tile, brick, metal, etc. Have a tile contractor or masonry contractor install additional material or completely rebuild the hearth. Repairs to damaged hearths are as varied as there are hearths. The inspector will attempt to provide information helpful for your particular situation.