Advice from HOMETALKERS who've uncovered a chimney in their old house.
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I think its a great idea to remove the drywall, it will add character and visual interest to your space, good luck! Keep us updated!
So much work and the old brick doesn't end up looking very nice, just kind of ugly. Some folks paint over old brick in an off white that is cleaner and better looking.
I've never done this but if you like the rustic look I'd say do it. I think its nice to have a taste of the history of the home and adds lots of character, especially with the design not being just a straight line.
I have a chimney in my house and it does add character to the room. The kitchen counter is built around it halfway of course. In time I think I will paint it off white.
It's a great idea to do so...!!! You'll have a touch of authenticity in your room. You can either paint the bricks, or pass some lin oil to increase their look. You can also pass a "french patina" on it so that it will become old instantly, and then protect it with lin oil...
I removed lathe and plaster to the chimney in my kitchen hoping to leave it exposed. But due to the fact that the house was built with a gap between the structure and the chimney and the bricks seems to be of different sizes, I had to change plans. Unfortunately, you can see the basement through the gaps. I ended up boxing it back in with sheet rock. Adding sheet rock included building out the framing to offset the bricking.
I think this is the answer I was looking for. I'm afraid that's what will happen to me. There doesn't seem to be anything between the drywall in the kitchen and next room. (I can see the lathe in the next room). Bummer.
Thanks!
If you have the skills (or budget) to add sheetrock to the upper section, I'd encourage you to do it. We exposed the back of a chimney in our kitchen and used trim pieces to fill in smaller gaps than what you have. It's a softer brick--and 118 yrs old-- so we used a sealer to keep it from shedding. Good luck!
I used a sealer in my daughters room for the same reason-the mortar had turned to sand! It's rock solid now and no longer seeps cold damp air.
Thanks for your reply!
I also live in and am restoring, (which has included taking down textured ceilings and stripping 36, 6 over 1 windows, some of which were French Casements - I took every one fully apart) a 1930's bungalow. There was an old kitchen chimney that went through the second level and attic. I totally removed it and made the resulting space into a utility closet off the up bath. I used the brick I salvaged as a back gardens walkway. I had to be sure that this removal did not sacrifice structure, don't want the house to implode. I have done several of these projects in 7 houses and every one is a specific issue, so make sure that what you decide to do isn't going to cause a failure in another part of the house. Once while removing adobes in one leg of a Brigham 'T' (circa 1800 hundreds), my husband pulled a joist in the leg of the 'T' and the roof fell down in the left side of the top of the 'T', where my teenage son and I were puling out adobes. We hit the deck, but the window sill 18 inches above our heads caught the roof. A friend of mine nearly collapsed her tub into her kitchen while saws-alling some floor joists. I love these adventures!