Plastering round a fireplace

Pinkangel

Hi

I suspect this is a silly question but the more I think about it the more I'm struggling to figure out the best order of events...

We're looking at replacing our fire and surround this year. Picked one out and pretty much ready to buy it. But I suddenly realised we plan to skim and paint the living room walls next year.

Is it stupid to put in a nice new fireplace and then plaster round it next year? (risk of damage, not very neat finish if plasterer needs to go right up to edge of fireplace)? Should we be doing it the other way round - wait until the walls are skimmed and then rip out the old brick and tile fireplace and put the new one in?

Thanks very much

AndyMc.....

I'd rip out the fireplace, skim the walls then refit a new one.

FreeBear

Is this an open fire, or are you planning on fitting a stove ?


One thing to watch out for with a fireplace, especially with a stove, is heat. The wall above the fire can get surprisingly hot, and modern plasters will crack & flake if subjected to more than 50°C. Whilst there are heat resistant plasters available, they are a cement based product and can be difficult to work with. Traditional lime plasters would be suitable, but then few plasterers really know what they are doing.


An example - I have an inset stove in my lounge, and regularly see temperatures well in excess of 100°C in the area above it. The wall has been plastered with lime and still looks good after two years. A close friend also has an inset stove, but he plastered the wall with Thistle Multifinish - This started to crack and flake off within months of starting to use the fire.


Get yourself an infrared thermometer (shouldn't cost more than £10 if you shop around), and check the wall temperature around the fireplace. When you are ready to rip out the old fire, make an informed decision about the plaster. Don't waste your time & money replastering now, only to have to do it all again when the fireplace is replaced.

Pinkangel

AndyMc..... wrote: »

I'd rip out the fireplace, skim the walls then refit a new one.

Hmm that makes sense. We were going to do the fireplace this year and tackle the walls and decorating next year to spread the cost. Now it looks like the grand plan may not work.

Pinkangel

FreeBear wrote: »

Is this an open fire, or are you planning on fitting a stove ?


One thing to watch out for with a fireplace, especially with a stove, is heat. The wall above the fire can get surprisingly hot, and modern plasters will crack & flake if subjected to more than 50°C. Whilst there are heat resistant plasters available, they are a cement based product and can be difficult to work with. Traditional lime plasters would be suitable, but then few plasterers really know what they are doing.


An example - I have an inset stove in my lounge, and regularly see temperatures well in excess of 100°C in the area above it. The wall has been plastered with lime and still looks good after two years. A close friend also has an inset stove, but he plastered the wall with Thistle Multifinish - This started to crack and flake off within months of starting to use the fire.


Get yourself an infrared thermometer (shouldn't cost more than £10 if you shop around), and check the wall temperature around the fireplace. When you are ready to rip out the old fire, make an informed decision about the plaster. Don't waste your time & money replastering now, only to have to do it all again when the fireplace is replaced.

It's a hole in the wall gas fire that I've been looking at, with a limestone surround. I hadn't thought about the heat affecting the plaster, good tip about checking it with a thermometer, thanks