Below I have included some pictures of my chimney brest. I removed a course of brickwork, that the previous erected to cover up pipes!
Although I was not lucky this time and did not a fireplace underneath it. I was happy to find ledge. Which I have not seen before.
Picture D shows 2 loose bricks, which are being held up by restricted space, rather than mortar! Although I was considering removing that course of bricks. I am now thingking about rendering the front of it. Then once dry, removing the supporting wood, and rendering the underneath and the back of it.
Is this the way to do it?
The internal part of the fireplace needs to be rendered as well and was wondering is this the best option. Not to keen to use MDF, hardboard, as I want to let the walls breath. Whereas I heard that hardboard encourages damp, as the wall cannot breath.
Also I need to block the upper part, and was wondering whats the best option, and whether I will need to install a vent, as I'm trying to avoid the falling dust and draft, onto my wine rack that I will be installing there.
P.S. There were pipes coming out of the red section in Picture B. My friend reckons this is how the old central heating system used to work, when the house was built! Truly amazing!
Although I was not lucky this time and did not a fireplace underneath it. I was happy to find ledge. Which I have not seen before.
Picture D shows 2 loose bricks, which are being held up by restricted space, rather than mortar! Although I was considering removing that course of bricks. I am now thingking about rendering the front of it. Then once dry, removing the supporting wood, and rendering the underneath and the back of it.
Is this the way to do it?
The internal part of the fireplace needs to be rendered as well and was wondering is this the best option. Not to keen to use MDF, hardboard, as I want to let the walls breath. Whereas I heard that hardboard encourages damp, as the wall cannot breath.
Also I need to block the upper part, and was wondering whats the best option, and whether I will need to install a vent, as I'm trying to avoid the falling dust and draft, onto my wine rack that I will be installing there.
P.S. There were pipes coming out of the red section in Picture B. My friend reckons this is how the old central heating system used to work, when the house was built! Truly amazing!