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How to patch in old fireplace?

Hello! I’m after some advise as to how to patch in an old fireplace. This was an old gas fireplace which had become a safety hazard for our two toddler as well as taking up majority of our living room wall space so we have decided to remove it and patch it in.
It obviously going to leave a large hole plus damage to the surrounding drywall.
how would I go about patching this in to make it look like a normal wall?

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EricL

Hello @georgiacass

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us, and thanks for sharing your question about patching your old fireplace.

Before you cover your fireplace, I suggest having your chimney or flue professionally sealed off. Any gas fittings that go in the chimney must be professionally turned off and deactivated. Once this is done then you can start covering the fireplace. I see that you've already started with the brick hearth, if the flooring is rough and pitted but not flat, I suggest using Dingo 10kg Mortar Mix to fill the gaps and flatten the surface.

For the front of the fireplace, I propose building a timber frame made from 90 x 45mm Outdoor Framing H3 Treated Pine - 2.4m and anchoring it to the bricks of the fireplace. You can then use standard plasterboard to cover the front and fill in the joints. The final steps will be to sand the filler and paint the surface.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nailbag

Hi @georgiacass

I have done this project a few times now and below is how I have done this.

Once your have removed your brick hearth your next challenge will be to match the tall traditional architrave. Google "Heritage Architraves"

Patching the plasterboard infill to the rest of the wall takes some skill to make it appear seamless. Unless your have or know someone, I would get a professional plasterer involved.

I hope this helps. Nailbag

Screenshot 2024-09-19 at 10.02.45 PM.png

Dave-1

Good Evening @georgiacass

That is an interesting job 🙂 I do have a question about the metal inset, doe sit come out to the edge of the plaster? From the photo it looks like it stands a little proud of the surface?

My steps would be along the same lines as @EricL and also factoring in @Nailbag 's recomendations. The steel shell is the only bit that concerns me. Maybe in the process of having the chimeny capped (as it will be flued to outside) you can ask the easiest way to remove the metal or if it should be removed as it could be supporting brickwork ect.

It will definently give you more space in the area. And it would also make a great project to put in here. I hope to see it and the steps as you go through the modification of the old fireplace.

Dave

georgiacass

Thanks so much guys for the fast reply and advice!

We’ve had the gas capped and chimney sealed already which is handy. We’ve been able to remove the metal shell off to a point before we now need to cut the old gas pipe to pull the rest off. I’m assuming this would mean it isn’t supporting the brickwork given we’ve been able to move it out?

I’ll let me know how we go!

thanks again @Dave-1 @Nailbag @EricL

Nailbag

Thats correct @georgiacass the firebox provides no structural support to the opening or the chimney.

Look forward to the updates.

Nailbag

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