Exposed brick opening for a log burner. Repointing

dominoman

dominoman

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I'm installing a log burner in my lounge. The hetas guy will do the flue and install but I want to prep the space.

This is the hole as it is now. I don't know what to do to the brick. Should I just repoint it? Or clean the brick and leave alone.

Is repointing a DIY job? Any advice?
20151114_074118.jpg
 
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Repointing is quite easy to do, but a good wire brush and a clean with brick acid might look better. Depends what you want it to look like.
 
OK thanks. I'll try the cleaning option first and see how it comes out.

The original mortar is very crumbly and soft (lime based?). I guess if there are a few small holes and gaps it doesnt really matter.
 
Adds to the character ! When its all cleaned off give it a coat of 50/50 turps/white spirit and linseed oil, brings the colour out nicely.
 
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Thanks. The turps/linseed oil mix is a great tip. Will try that this weekend once I have all the bricks looking clean.
 
You can use those flags to great effect for a hearth. I used the fake York stone ones for my cousins hearth, look great and much cheaper.
 
Thanks Robbie. That's good to know. I'm going to try it.

One further question...

The stone slabs I am buying have irregular dressed edges, which I like for the front edge. But as I need to but the stones up against each other for the inner hearth should I cut a straight edge there? Would that look better?

I'd then put a thin layer of grout between the cut edges.

I've never done tiling or patios before so would love some advice on this part. Thanks
 
The ones I laid were on sand and cement and I kept a 10mm gap in the middle and pointed it up. looked neat enough.
 
I'm now trying to remove the last cement stains from the brick, before repointing.

For the brick cleanup I started a separate thread in the Building forum so I don't change topic. See brick cement removal using hydrochloric acid.

Would love any advice before I set off. I'm a bit scared of doing irreversible damage!
 
Use a brick acid/patio cleaner, wont do any harm at all. You may not get all soot stains off but tends to add to the character anyway., Repoint and seal with the Turps/oil.
 
Thanks! Will try that.

I now have some muriatc (hydrochloric) acid too so will carefully try cleaning the lumps of stuck cement with that.

I was in Pret a Manger today and they have their distinctive exposed brick walls. All newly built of course but made with old worn bricks and looks authentic. The pointing is deliberately messy, with lumps, dents and splashes, as if it was deliberately designed to be not on display. Looks good IMO.
 
The acid fizzed and spluttered away, and definitely it made the bricks look cleaner. It didnt get rid of the very old solid lumps of concrete, but it did help.

I have now repointed and fitted the hearth and wood burner.

Here's a picture of how it looks now. The kids love it!

wood burner.jpg


Just the fireplace surround left to fit (this weekend I hope).
 
Looks very nice! What did you make the hearth out of? It doesn't look like the slabs you posted earlier?
 
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