Chimney Breast Fireplace Brickwork Repairs

[mike1978]

Hi,

We have decided to remove the fireplace in our lounge to fit a wood burner - I`ve managed to remove the fireplace and removed the rubble/plaster in the fireplace itself.

What we wanted to do was expose some of the brickwork around the fireplace once the plaster was removed. Its not in a too bad state by the looks, but it appears that at some point, the corners of the sides of the fireplace were knocked out ( without a lot of precision!) to widen it for a bigger fireplace surround.

I`ve not done any brickwork before but can turn my hand to most things. What would be the best way to repair this?

Can i safely remove each brick, replacing it with a matching brick? What about support - is the chimney breast likely to fall down!?

I think i `d have to replace each brick on the sides going up to the arch as everyone looks to have been damaged.

Pics-

before

Any advice is much appreciated!

Thanks, Mike

 

[JimLoskot]

To sort the brick work out and getting it matched up etc... is going to be very long time consuming work.

I think a better option might be to cut a straight line with a grinder on both of the in-sides, keeping as much brick exposed as you can but making it even on both sides. Then Square off the corners with a strongish morter and put straight edging on and plaster over. Maybe expose the brick arch as well.

Another option would be to have a mantle piece to hide the damaged bricks.

Also probably worth trying to clean the bricks up first to see how well they'll come out, you might decide they don't come out well enough and skim the whole opening.

Hope this is of some help