Crumbling Bricks Back of Fireplace

Spadez

Hello. I had the fireplace removed in my house but the back wall bricks are in bad condition. The surface is crumbly around the area behind the opening, but seem to be ok higher up. Although the quick job would be just to cover it, i want to ensure the structure is still strong it may make sense to replace these bricks as suggested by my plasterer. I’ve lost about 2cm of brick depth in some places. Behind the fireplace is the wall adjoining the next property, although I’m not sure about thicknesses. It’s a Victorian property.

Any insight or next step advice would be appreciated.

Davesnave

It's hard to tell, but the bricks may have been like that since whoever installed the last fireplace fitted it. I'm assuming your plasterer didn't do it.


For me, it's not an issue, but I can't feel the bricks.

Keith99

I had similar on mine, when I was renovating the old fireplace. I had to take some on the inside side of the fireplace and they were a bloody pain to remove, so I agree with Dave that they should be fine.

FreeBear

Much of the structural integrity will be provided by the chimney breast. In addition, the back of the opening looks as if it is double thickness (looks like there are regular headers (the half bricks). I'd suggest repointing the brickwork and then render the whole lot - Use lime mortar to match what was originally used.

If you wanted exposed bricks as a "feature", face the area with brick slips and save on the effort/mess of replacing each & every affected brick.

Putting in a wood stove ?
Do not use gypsum plaster in the opening or above the stove - Gypsum plaster will crack and flake off once you start using the stove.

stuart45

What are your plans for it? Are you going to install a wood burner, have an open fire, or just leave it as a feature?

Spadez

My plan is to use it as ornamental, however if it wouldn’t greatly increase my costs it would be nice to be able to use it as a functional fireplace potentially a bit later down the line.

However, that’s the thing really. It’s all dependant on cost. If it were a case of it being £2k to make to ready to be used as a functioning fireplace but £200 if it isn’t functioning then it’s hard to justify. I just don’t have any idea of the work or costs either way.

Spadez

Thank you very much for the reply. Let’s say that I wanted to get it ready for a stove but not actually put one in. I would repoint the brick work and use like mortar. Then cover in a plaster designed for heat. Finally would I need to use anything to stop the damp in the brick like a penetrating sealer?

stuart45

If you wanted an open fire you would need to install a fireback, whereas with a wood burner a lime render would be ideal. This would also allow moisture to escape from the brickwork.
When it came to have the wood burner installed the HETAS fitter would probably put a liner down the existing flue.

Davesnave

Because my fire opening was such a mess, I had galvanised metal box made and had the woodburner installed into that. The stove installers knew where the item could be fabricated, so I just gave the dimensions and it was ready in 2 days.


It's just painted on the interior. Works fine.