Brick work query

[dantheram]

Hi all

Stripped off the skirting around my fireplace and the bricks are a bit crumbly -

Should I chisel out the worst bits and replace or will they be ok?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Welcome to the world of Victorian and Georgian brickwork! They'll probably be OK - in a chimney breast there are multiple "skins" of brick

 

[jj4091]

crumbling brick treatment uk

 

[cwhaley]

Exactly how mine was when I exposed the brickwork on our chimney breast to install a burner. My theory was that after previous owners had bricked the fireplace up and left the flue un-capped, rainwater had spent years falling down that flue and water was sitting and leaching through. If skirting is on the front that obviously holds back moisture and slows down the drying process.

The bricks look dry though, with no visible evidence of efflorescence or salts. I wouldn't be concerned.

 

[Odds]

You could leave it as it is if dry, although a nice piece of wood panelling could hide the crumbly brick and enhance the area?