Georgian bedroom fireplace uncovered

[Padg999]

Hi all, I’ve just opened up a bedroom fireplace in our old cottage (late 1700’s ) we would like to keep it looking original but as a feature. will be rebuilding the brick arch , blocking up the chimney, renewing the floor tiles , and re-pointing the whole thing . Been looking at Georgian hob grate ? Would this be the sort of thing originally fitted? And does anyone have any examples of one fitted in a brick fireplace ? Or any other ideas welcome ?

 

[ThornhillMike]

Can't offer any technical advice but it's a lovely feature...

 

[hughseh]

Dont block it up or if you do, put a vent in, concealed or otherwise. Chimney condensation is to be avoided.

 

[Stevers]

Is the unusual plastering to the right due to there being a corner fireplace below it, and if so, is that exposed?

 

[Padg999]

Is the unusual plastering to the right due to there being a corner fireplace below it, and if so, is that exposed?

Yes that is the downstairs fireplace chimney to the right . The fireplace downstairs has a working log burner in it .

 

[Toby Newell]

lovely curves

 

[Padg999]

Thanks for your replies. I will post a photo once it’s finished . Also does anyone has a good recommend method to clean the old lime plaster off the brick faces? Or just use the usual brick acid and brush ? Thanks

 

[Toby Newell]

^^^ that. Do as I say, not as I do...

I use Lithofin cement away which is the most powerful you can get, unless you buy pressurised 38%+ conc. from a specialist industrial chemical firm.

They say only for outdoor use and to dilute 20 to 1, which you should absolutely do. However, I use it neat and it works quite well. Apparently I am a professional, who in a previous life regularly dipped his hands into concentrated HCl in an electroplating research laboratory.

Open windows, wear chemical gauntlets (I use Ansell or currently Nitrex 440) wear glasses and if low ventillation an organic fume respirator. You dont need a special ABEK one for HCl, a regular A1 or A2P3 will do for small jobs. Otherwise your lungs will melt a bit.

 

[Padg999]

Hi , very sorry but I forgot to post a finished pic . I’ve blocked the chimney off so not in use but a nice feature in the bedroom, will keep an eye out for the right size hop grate to put in it .

 

[Padg999]

The progress ..

 

[a twig]

Fantastic effort, well done

 

[Gothichome]

What a beauty.

 

[Richeee]

Looks lovely. Im not really a fan aesthetically of fire places in a bedroom. But this changes that. Well done.

A question if i might be so bold. Is this property listed and would this be something that the officer would be involved in. ? Just asling as the survey i recently had done is hinting of one similar in the property im buying

 

[Lacan07]

Great Job there

 

[Padg999]

Looks lovely. Im not really a fan aesthetically of fire places in a bedroom. But this changes that. Well done.

A question if i might be so bold. Is this property listed and would this be something that the officer would be involved in. ? Just asling as the survey i recently had done is hinting of one similar in the property im buying

Thanks. my property is not listed so I can’t answer your question I’m afraid

 

[paulc]

I use Lithofin cement away which is the most powerful you can get, unless you buy pressurised 38%+ conc. from a specialist industrial chemical firm.

Found 38% HCL on the shelves of a local supermarket and in a hardware store. Despite it being a rather unpleasant acid and an ingredient of things that go bang, you don't need an EPP Licence to buy the stuff.

 

[mh12]

The progress ..











View attachment 14591

Fantastic conclusion. Intrigued to find out what happened to the opening that leads to the chimney flue? Googling anatomy of chimney reveals it sits above the smoke chamber and opens to the chimney flue.

Was it bricked up/sealed or was an air vent brick type installed in there? Also were chimney cowls/cap installed on the roof side?

Have been reading up sealing disused firbplaces and theres mention of having airvents/airbricks at site of fireplace to prevent condensation build up in the chimney flue.
Many thanks

 

[Padg999]

Fantastic conclusion. Intrigued to find out what happened to the opening that leads to the chimney flue? Googling anatomy of chimney reveals it sits above the smoke chamber and opens to the chimney flue.

Was it bricked up/sealed or was an air vent brick type installed in there? Also were chimney cowls/cap installed on the roof side?

Have been reading up sealing disused firbplaces and theres mention of having airvents/airbricks at site of fireplace to prevent condensation build up in the chimney flue.
Many thanks

It was blocked up and plastered over with no air vent , just a pepper pot on the chimney top. There was no damp in the chimney and didn’t smell. I have now opened up the fire place & blocked the chimney off with a metal plate plus a layer of sound deadening insulation (stops the wind / road noise) . It’s quite high up inside the stack so I’m hoping it stays dry again, if not I will put a vent in. Will leave it a while before I open it up and inspect it again but so far so good.

 

[Stevers]

Have been reading up sealing disused firbplaces and theres mention of having airvents/airbricks at site of fireplace to prevent condensation build up in the chimney flue.

My builder always vented ground floor fireplaces when blocked off, but never first floor, and that has worked for us.

 

[lizziecupcakes]

Gorgeous!