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How to clean and restore a fireplace?

We have a brick fireplace in our house with a slate facade (fireplace is non-operational). We are planning to sell in the next 6 months and hoping to get some ideas and advice about how to give the fireplace a clean, glow up and fresh look for the sale.

We currently have a panel over the fireplace as it’s not sealed i.e. the chimney is open, unsure if we need to seal that first and the best way to go about this. The previous owners had an old gas heater installed in the fireplace which has since been removed due to carbon monoxide issues, the gas fitting has been sealed.

In the images, you’ll see a wide shot to give context for where the fireplace is. A close up of the brick internally and then a shot of the top leading to the chimney.

Looking for advice on the best way to bring it to life and make it an attractive visual space for the sale. As you can imagine, we aren’t looking to invest a great deal of money into the project. Thanks in advance!

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EricL

Hello @dunts

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

There have been a few discussions about fireplace conversions - Wooden drinks cabinet for fireplace niche by @EdwardW and Living room renovation with whitewashed by @kbright. I suggest looking at installing an electric heater with faux fire effect such as the - Euromatic 1600W Electric Fireplace Heater which is very convincing. However, if you wish to officially de-activate your fireplace, I suggest speaking to a local fireplace installer in your area.

They will have the knowledge and experience to properly decommission your fireplace in accordance with the local rules and regulations of the council. The fireplace still appears to be in good condition; I suggest a surface clean of the tiles and removing any soot or charcoal stain on the interior of the fireplace.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

EricL

Hello @dunts

Just to add to the suggestions made, I propose using Simple Green 750ml All-Purpose Cleaner to clean the surface of the tile in combination with an All Set Microfibre Cleaning Cloth. For the interior bricks, I recommend using a Geelong Brush Dustpan And Brush Set to dust the brick interior and remove any of the loose debris that may have fallen down from the chimney.

I suggest using only a damp cloth to wipe the interior bricks and rinsing it frequently to prevent spreading soot and ash between the brick surface. I don't recommend using any chemical cleaning products on the bricks as they are very porous and it could stain the surface unintentionally.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

dunts

Thanks Eric, appreciate the insights. What would you recommend to seal/close off the chimney at the top to help stop soot and other dirt falling down?

I like the idea of cleaning the bricks and using it as a book storage area, just to make it feel a little more visually appealing.

EricL

Hello @dunts

It might be possible to put in a plywood timber cover temporarily to prevent soot from unexpectedly dropping in to your fireplace. But as I mentioned before if the fireplace is to be decommissioned properly the fireplace installer will provide a more permanent solution which covers the top of the chimney as well as the bottom section.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

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