removing plaster & render to expose brickwork

virgin_moneysaver

we are in the process of updating the lounge & have just replaced the ceilings & ripped out the old ceramic fireplace (house circa 1950) as I want a contemporary inset fire for a change (this is the youngest house we've owned!) I've been kicking the idea around about removing the old plaster/render on the chimney breast & leaving the brick exposed

what is the best way to achieve this & what, if at all, should I seal the brickwork with at the end?

securityman

I would say hammer and large flat bolster as not to damage the bricks to much.
You might need to sandblast it aswell to get a good finish
A kango would be to much i think as it would damage the brick work.

Maybe pva to seal the brick work after

montrose5

Hammer and flat bolster then a wire brush, leave the brickwork a week or so before putting anything on it

ormus

you may need to repoint the brickwork if its poor.
you dont want any possible fumes escaping into the room.

bigdoozer

go hire a 25ltr 12CFM compressor, buy a hose and air chisel, goggles and face masks, done in n oooooo time at all. Whole lot £100, time saved £50000000

Bungarm2001

This is the one situation where I fully reccomend using PVA to seal the bricks.

Once you have removed all the plaster, dust and loose stuff, you will more than likely find that you'll have to reposition all the skirtings around the firebreast, maybe even replace some. It might look nice if you did something at the ceiling end too....maybe cove the whole thing? These things always look far better after a bit of attention to detail.

When you are satisfied with the look of the bare bricks, give the whole thing a couple of coats of PVA watered down about 50/50.

PS; Shame you did the ceiling first...(Just re-read your original post...)

Vomityspice

I did this on my previous house!

Tools required:

1 Club Hamer
1 Bolster Chisel
1 Power Drill
1 Wire attachment (for drill)

Use the club and bolster to remove the majority of the plaster, then use the drill and wire brush attachment to clean up the bricks.

Please note that the plaster dust gets EVERYWHERE so ideally seal the room and open the windows.

When you have finished you will see that Victorian Builders were all cowboys as the brickwork will be rough! (You might be lucky....) I suspect they counld'nt care as they knew their handiwork would be covered by the plaster!

Never again will you extol the virtues of Victorian Builders!