Chimney brickwork above inglenook

[dinglem]

Hi,

We have a large inglenook in our lounge (approx. 360yr old cottage). Directly above the fireplace is the smallest of our bedrooms, which is dominated by a LARGE chimneybreast, which tapers and narrows from floor up to the ceiling.. and eventually to the roof. The base of the brickwork is the full width and depth of the inglenook below.

I'm looking to make a feature of this brickwork, but it has been plastered over by a former owner. I am considering exposing the bricks, but do not want to damage them or structure as a whole.

Any advice on 'sensitive' plaster removal appreciated. Does anyone else here have a similar feature?

Rgds,

dinglem

 

[Gervase]

It depends on the plaster - lime plaster should be easy to remove using just a bolster and a few light hammer taps, but cementitious or gypsum plaster is much harder to get off without damaging the bricks.
One problem is that the bricks are often softer than the plaster, so trying to remove the latter also takes off the face of the former.
I would have an exploratory scrape at some plaster in a corner and see what it's like. Then inspect the whole thing to make sure the same plaster is used throughout. If it seems to be soft lime plaster, then you should be able to remove it.
Although, to be a pedant, such a structure was almost certainly plastered from new - having exposed brick and stone in houses is a bit like leaving your auntie standing in the drawing room in her underwear. Thus it may be possible to remove the plaster, but is it desirable?
The brickwork underneath may well be pretty rough and ready, with all sorts of breaks and bats used to give the taper; you may find yourself wanting to cover it straight back up again if you do decide to remove the plaster.

 

[Nemesis]

I agree with Gervase - and additionally unless the chimney is lined the plaster may be doing valuable service in plugging possible leaks.

 

[Lime]

Although, to be a pedant, such a structure was almost certainly plastered from new - having exposed brick and stone in houses is a bit like leaving your auntie standing in the drawing room in her underwear. Thus it may be possible to remove the plaster, but is it desirable?
The brickwork underneath may well be pretty rough and ready, with all sorts of breaks and bats used to give the taper; you may find yourself wanting to cover it straight back up again if you do decide to remove the plaster.

I agree with that.
You may find the brickwork a masterpiece or a mess and often old brickwork is damaged by later alterations and repairs.

 

[dinglem]

Hi all,

Thanks for the comments. Looking again at the plaster it does seems very uneven and varied in thinkness. This could indeed be covering spurious brickwork to create the taper. I have to say i hadn't considered this.

Thanks again!

 

[andrew gayton]

gervase wrote.........

Although, to be a pedant, such a structure was almost certainly plastered from new - having exposed brick and stone in houses is a bit like leaving your auntie standing in the drawing room in her underwear. Thus it may

or, if rough, was painted out in ruddle and white to simulate better work.....

 

[Nemesis]

Andrew is of course correct, although maybe more in main rooms than bedrooms? Would be interesting to see if any traces of such treatment are extant under the plaster... although I'd be inclined to leave that in place unless it's really grim.

This article about one material being used to ape another historically some may find of interest:

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/Magazine/Spring%202005/magazine-spring-2005-part3.htm

 

[middi]

It must be so warm in that room that you will be going around in underware.

NO, removing plasterwork from an old inglenook, especially if cement based, is not a very good idea. It is almost a certainty that the brickwork will be in a poor state and further damage will occur when removing the plaster.

 

[Nemesis]

Here's ruddling and pencilling...

http://www.wealddown.co.uk/pendean-16th-century-house-interiors.htm



[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]

 

[Penners]

Here's ruddling and pencilling...

A subjective comment, but I think that's ruddy 'orrible!

(Ooh dear - I hope it's not Nemesis Towers!)

 

[Penners]

like leaving your auntie standing in the drawing room in her underwear

Oh dear, has she escaped again?

 

[Gervase]

A subjective comment, but I think that's ruddy 'orrible!

(Ooh dear - I hope it's not Nemesis Towers!)

I'm so glad you said that - I was tempted, but my courage failed me. It does remind me of a lot of Victorian terraces in North London that got that treatment in the Seventies. It was very popular with Greek Cypriot families where I lived; they would take enormous pains painting in the pointing with white gloss paint.

 

[Nemesis]

It's also historically very authentic.

 

[Gervase]

Authentic it may be, my good woman, but I find it hidjus. And de gustibus non disputandum, as they say in Crouch End!

 

[Nemesis]

They don't actually say it in deepest Northumberland - well, not often is it heard round here I have to say.

Round these parts there's an est somewhere in it. However I appreciate there are variations.




[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]

You and Penners still have time to enter this:

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/news/dp/2006122101

 

[Gervase]

What larks!
But, wist, are you suggesting that Penners and me...(catches breath)...that we have a terribly Pooterish sense of humour best larded on some Victorian schmaltz?
In which case you're probably right. Ithangyew!

 

[Gervase]

[Open Image] [Hosted by PhotoGalaxy.com]
You know, you used to be able to get wallpaper just like that in my local hardware store in Crouch End.

 

[Gervase]

Bum - mucked up the HTML!

 

[Nemesis]

Crouch End?

Hmmmm.

 

[Gervase]

There was nothing wrong with Crouch End when I grew up there, I'll have you know. It was 'gentrified' in the Seventies and is now full of media tarts, but it used to have a certain charm that was lacking in, say, Muswell Hill, while eschewing the intellectual arrogance of Hampstead and Highgate.
(Cor, I do talk cobblers sometimes!)