reinstating a fireplace

[plasticpigeon]

Hello. Here is some work I've been doing over Christmas. A while back some builders put a lintel in below the constructional arch. I didn't like that is was resting on wooden blocks for some reason and extra piers had to be put in to accomodate an insert so I put in a new lintel resting on the new piers. I also put in some pretty tiles which made a nice change from the general destruction. I can't wait to put in the insert and an old marblised slate surround, which I hope is appropriate.

 

[Feltwell]

I'll watch your progress with interest PP, as I've some fireplaces here to reinstate, please keep posting. Is that intended to be a working fireplace?

 

[kreyszig]

looks good! you put my christmas efforts to shame - one small sash window strip & repaint, and that's with a preceding couple of weeks!

 

[plasticpigeon]

That is very kind of you Kreizig. I've done a few sashes and know how much work they are. Mind you that hearth took 14 bags of ballast so was quite a lot to dig out and put back in!! Yes I intend it to be a working fireplace.

It looks like the plasterers I was hoping to use are pretty unreliable like every other tradesperson i have ever tried to use, so rather than boarding and skimming, I will probably end up patching most of it, and perhaps boarding the chimney breast for quickness as that bit was really bad. Now the skirtings are off patchiing will be a lot easier anyway, and I hate the dust from pulling the old stuff off. When I moved in I wanted to put a cornice in, but now I am tending towards not doing so as it obviously never had one. i also found out that the picture rail was originally much higher, maybe less than a foot from the ceiling, so about 8ft high. Is that normal??? I seems a bit high and not well proportioned, but it was that height so that it could continue over the top of the bay window.

 

[88v8]

I found out that the picture rail was originally much higher, maybe less than a foot from the ceiling, so about 8ft high. Is that normal??? I seems a bit high and not well proportioned, but it was that height so that it could continue over the top of the bay window.

Not all original designs are good.
If it looks wrong, I'd leave it lower.

Its amazing how blown plaster can hang onto the wall. A good proportion of the plaster in our previous house was bad. Scrim paper, then wallpaper, and it just hung on for years despite being quite hollow.

Ivor

 

[plasticpigeon]

It was always my intention to patch it up, but I got bored and decided i would call someone in, but no professional can/wants to patch up, all want to start again. if doing it myself I'll patch, but I already wernt to town on the chimnet breast (i didn't need to remove the upper portion of plaster) in anticipation of the pros coming round and throwing some plaster up the wall.