1970's brick fireplace

[Gene2013]

Would appreciate ideas on how to upgrade old brick fireplace please. Removal of the fireplace is not possible I am afraid.

If anyone has covered by painting, plastering or any other method - were you happy with the results?

thank you

 

[ladylola]

Bit of an awkward one in some respects . Some may see a wonderful period fireplace needlessly damaged for the sake of fashion while others see just a pile of ugly bricks.
Personally I'm never fond go painting brickwork , if it's ugly it will just be ugly in a different colour , and if it's decent it'd be an absolute pain to remove should someone want to in the future. The same thing applies to plaster albeit to a lesser degree.
Another option and one I've done myself , although not to a fireplace , is to fix grounds or batterns to the brickwork taking care to fix only to the joints not the bricks themselves and then to board that with plasterboard , mdf , or even that cement based board ( aquaboard? ) then finish as desired , plaster , paint , timber or tiles.

 

[Gene2013]

Hello, I am grateful for your reply. You are right, the fireplace is ugly, and may still be ugly whatever I do. Thank you for the tip with regard to batterns and then covering the bricks.

Will think seriously about what to do.

Thanks again

 

[misterhelpful]

I did the same kind of thing that ladylola did with my sister's 70's stone fireplace. I battened it all out horizontally screwed into the mortar joints and over-boarded with woodgrain effect MDF panelling and painted it all a very pale cream colour. The transformation was amazing but at the time I was concerned that the heat from the gas fire may be a fire hazard. That was about 10 years ago and, I'm happy to say, there has never been even the slightest discoloration to the paint, never mind any fire damage!!

 

[Gene2013]

Thank you for your message. I have looked at the mdf you mention on line. I can see how nice it would look. I am grateful for your time.