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I have an old brick fireplace I’d like to repair the inside of to make it more aesthetically pleasing. It hasn’t been used in 40 years but I don’t want to use anything that would not be fire safe/fire proof in case it will be used one day. I hate the orange brick and there’s a brick missing so need to replace that. Please help!
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @swimmingbread. It's splendid to have you join us and many thanks for your question on repairing a fireplace.
To repair the fireplace properly, the missing brick should be replaced with a fire-rated brick that is specifically designed for use in fireplaces, as these can withstand the high temperatures if the fireplace is ever used again. In terms of improving the appearance, it really depends on the look you’re going for. Painting the internal bricks isn’t a great option because most paints won’t tolerate the heat inside a working fireplace. A more permanent solution would be to use a fireproof mortar or a specialised render designed for use inside fire enclosures, though these tend to be more specialised products that aren’t always easy to source.
If you’re mainly after an aesthetic upgrade and don’t plan to burn fires, you could create a temporary insert. For example, you could build a simple box from plywood cut to size, paint it in any colour you like, and slide it into place to cover the brickwork. This could be removed if you ever wanted to restore the fireplace to working order. Alternatively, you could style the space by stacking cut logs inside for a cosy effect, or even repurpose the cavity into a feature such as a small bookshelf. That way, you get the visual improvement without compromising safety should you decide to use the fireplace again in the future.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
