If you were faced with this.........? (plastering/filling)

[D J Fryer]

I had fun on Saturday angle grinding channels for some speaker cable I wanted buried. The fireplace used to have a gas fire in and when I removed it and the lovely floor tiles that had been put on the wall as a 'surround' this is the surface I am left with - a kind of hotch potch of various patching up efforts over the years.

My father in law and I fancy giving 'making it good' a bash. Obviously there are areas that need building up before 'skimming'. What products would the more knowledgeable recommend?

Its only a comparatively small area - would the best course be to level/sand off whats there (incl the old tile adhesive), PVA the area, use bonding coat for the areas that need building up and then use a finishing plaster for the remaining areas....?

What tools would I need to do that and can any of the actual muck be purchased ready mixed?

As always - your input (sarcastic or otherwise) is valued.....

 

[TexMex]

Are you intending to keep the fireplace open or block it in?

 

[D J Fryer]

Tex - the fireplace will be open but not used - I intend on putting some shelves in the fireplace to hold my AV equipment (Amp, DVD, Sky+) as I have a plasma Tv to mount above it (the bottom of the plasma mount is actually in shot).

At the moment I have a huge wedge of foam up the chimney which stops the major draughts but still lets some air circulate.