plaster above a fireplace Ask your questions and find answers on many subjects relating to plastering and dry lining

[davebwithane]

Hello All,

I've just moved into my new house (built 1920). I have ripped out the old fireplace and taken some wood panels off the walls. There are a lot of cracks in the plaster above the fireplace, which I expect is normal. Should I skim over the original plaster or take it all off and start gain ? If I take it all off I will be back to brick. I was on a plastering course recently and we did not cover plastering over bricks, we just practiced on plasterboard, so I'm not sure how I should approach this. Any suggestions would be most welcome. Also, what sort of plaster should I use around a fireplace ? are there any specialised heat resistant plasters ?

Thanks
Dave

[wraithly]

Don't plaster straight onto brick put a render (sand and cement) coat on first, use the render coat to make the wall straight and flat using a straight edge (u can buy one of these or just use a straight piece of wood to pull up or "screed" off excess render) and scratch finish it with a polyurethane float. leave overnight then skim like you would on plasterboard, i also like to give a slightly more genorous first coat to render

[davebwithane]

thanks for the tips !