Re: today's fun and request for advice


"Jeff Gaines" <jgaines_newsid@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:xn0f6y6g36izgf3005@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 01/06/2007 in message <5cbf4rF30h3s0U1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Tickettyboo wrote:

Was knocking out the rest of the hideous 70s fireplace in the lounge
and then knocking the plaster off the chimney breast.
http://www.tickettyboo.plus.com/misc/fireplace%20007.jpg

dunned it and boy oh boy was it hard! think the 70s thing was built
with bomb proof cement holding the horrid bricks together <g>

I would like to know if anyone has cleaned up old bricks inside a
fireplace recess. What is the best way to go about it?
Plan A is to clean it up, clean the bricks on the chimney breast and
have a multi fuel ( logs/coal) stove fitted.

When I did that in my old lounge (which I converted to a kitchen) I
made a landing space for the surround, levered it off, and it landed
exactly where I wanted it. I then spent a couple of hours breaking it
up because I couldn't budge it while it was whole!

Oh, if only it was a surround! It consisted of two ugly brick pillars at
the front and then the whole of the recess was encased in the same
horrid brick. It has taken me hours and hours ( and the skin from my
knuckles LOL) to knock it out.

How sound is the mortar between the fire blackened bricks, sometimes
it is lime mortar (to allow for expansion) and sometimes it softens
over time.
It seems ok, though I haven't investigated too closely yet - wanted to
get yet another car load of rubble to the tip before it closed and when
I got back te pub looked SO inviting <g> I don't mind repointing it if I
have to, but will wait and get the verdict from the chimney sweep first.

Do you have space to build a single skin wall in front of them?
Cleaning them will be a pig.

Probably got the space, but I would rather have the brick :-) I have
also taken all the plaster off the chimney breast and want to clean that
up too and leave it as is. I like the old bricks.

If the mortar and bricks are sound then how about just brushing them
off, they look authentic :-)

That will be the first step ( ooh goody, I get to clean muck up again!),
I am hoping that they don't look bad when they have had a good brush
down, but there is around 100 years of soot and muck on there :-)

--
Ticketty᧧


.

Relevant Pages

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  • Re: todays fun and request for advice
    ... and then knocking the plaster off the chimney breast. ... with bomb proof cement holding the horrid bricks together ... Plan A is to clean it up, clean the bricks on the chimney breast and ...
    (uk.people.silversurfers)
  • Re: todays fun and request for advice
    ... bomb proof cement holding the horrid bricks together ... Plan A is to clean it up, clean the bricks on the chimney breast and have ...
    (uk.people.silversurfers)
  • Re: todays fun and request for advice
    ... then knocking the plaster off the chimney breast. ... I would like to know if anyone has cleaned up old bricks inside a fireplace recess. ... Plan A is to clean it up, clean the bricks on the chimney breast and have a multi fuel stove fitted. ...
    (uk.people.silversurfers)
  • Re: todays fun and request for advice
    ... and then knocking the plaster off the chimney breast. ... with bomb proof cement holding the horrid bricks together ... fireplace recess. ... Plan A is to clean it up, clean the bricks on the chimney breast and ...
    (uk.people.silversurfers)