Taking a gas fire out and plastering wall -advice please!!!

JoeyDoll

Hi

I have a gas fire in my dinning room which I never use, I am wanting it removed and the surround too but don't know where to start!!

Also apart from the gas fire removal - I'm assuming you need a corgi registered bloke for that, do you think it is a job I could do myself??

Have a feeling this could be a large and costly job, any ideas of the price I could be charged by the corgi guy or the plasterer?



Any advice would be much appreciated,

Thanks so much for reading the post!!

John_3:16

£50 to take fire out plaster board it yourself not to hard and another £50 to have it plastered it is not a hard diy job. Depends what type of hole you have to fill in Don,t be scared of it.

cheekymole

Hi Joey Doll

I did this a few years ago now. Took the fire out, blanked it off and gave it a few days to make sure the gas wasn't leaking, bricked it up, plastered it, painted it, didn't cost a penny

Good luck

kat21

for removal of the gas fire make sure you use a corgi registered gas fitter with regards to the opening make sure you put a vent in to prevent damp problems see here
http://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/fireplace2.htm

kat21

silvercar

Someone before us has done this and our surveyor said they should have left a vent between the chimney breast and the room.

tomstickland

If you're a proficient DIY'er then you can turn off gas, let system vent for a good while and then remove the gas piping. I cut pipe with hand held pipe cutter and resoldered in new bits. You can do your own gas pipework sorting as long as it's inspected by a Corgi registered person. Any doubts then pay someone else to do that bit.

Personally, if it's a brick wall and there's a hole then I'd brick up the hole and render it. Then pay a plasterer to finish if off properly.

Otherwise I reckon you could get someone to do it in 1-2 days of work.

Rex_Mundi

Seeing as you are asking such simple questions about this job. You should completely ignore any advice posted about removing the gas fire yourself. If you want to save money, don't save it on this part of the job. If you dont know what you are doing, understand that gas is dangerous, and can kill.

Boarding up the space left is not too difficult. You can use plasterboard (easiest), or bricks. If you want a really good finish,. Get a plasterer to skim the top. They'll finish it off nicely for not too much money.

Try and negotiate a cash price with the plasterer. It will only be a small job, and they may be happy to knock a few quid off for cash (I don't care what the taxman says, it still makes a difference).

JoeyDoll

Thanks so much for your replies, really wasn't expecting any!!!

Thanks John I now have an idea what I should be charged for the job, and what to budget for it!!!

Cheekymole you sound like a confident DIY expert - wish u were in my house!!!

From all your advice and the fact that i'm really not great at DIY, i think i'd best get a corgi guy in to remove the fire (would worry to much about a gas leak if i never!!), then try and brick the hole or use plasterboard which sounds much easier, then get a plasterer in to skim the wall.

Would a plasterer come out for such a small job, I've heard they don't really like small jobs!

Only other thing is the concrete tiled bit at the bottom (harth is it called?)
Sorry i'm not great at explaining - do you use a hammer and chisle to remove it then level it off with concrete?

Ohh and the surround (mantel) any special way of removing that? or do you just prize it off!!

Thanks so much for all your replies, your all fab!!!!

Mr_Grumpy_7

You should be able to get a plasterer but you may need to be patient as it's only a small job.

Regarding the removal of the old fireplace, start with the surround first. They are normally fixed to the wall using 2 or 4 screws located either along the top, along the sides near the top, or both. The screws are then plastered over so you may need to remove the wallpaper and poke around a little before all becomes clear. The hearth will have been laid on a bed of sand/cement, a pick axe will be ideal for lifting it. Place the pick axe under one edge and carefully lift, all being well it will come away whole. You can then you can lift it clear. Both the surround and the hearth will be HEAVY. If need be, you can make good where the hearth was using a sand/cement mix, applying a coat of PVA adhesive first.

Hope this helps.

JoeyDoll

Hi Mr Grumpy

Thanks for your advice - I think if i follow your advice it will turn out much neater than what I would have done - so thanks!!!