Fireplace Refurb #1

The fireplaces in our house were hideous and evidence of heavy psychedelics mis-use by whoever it was who thought these were a good idea.

They were also eating up the real estate in the dining and living rooms.  We decided that they must go, and so it came to pass that the dining room one was the first dismantled (literally dis-mantled).

The night before the Christmas Skip was delivered, I smacked the hearth with a 4 pound hammer and cold chisel a few times and it separated easily.

Beneath it, evidence of Edwardian Quarry Tiles extending under the laminates.

 

After I finished the skip fill, I found the concrete and tile edifice as easy as the hearth to dislodge if not to shift.

The next day, I filled the corrugated brickwork I had exposed with plaster.  Mixing a thinner batch, I poured a cover for the sand base to the old hearth with the intention of this providing a underlay for the self leveling compound for tiles to make a faux hearth once we sourced a proper cast iron surround.

The bathroom refurb took priority and we continue to live, reluctantly, with this one in this state whilst taunting the one in the living room that its days, too, are numbered.  During this week off to do electrics and (mostly) finish the bath, it too will feel the wrath of the hammer.  For now, this is the state of things.