Cracked bricks in fireplace

[EAS88]

Hello!

Here's what the inside of my fireplace looks like. As you can see, several bricks have cracked and the mortar is very porous. Do you think it can be repaired using fireproof mortar? That is, applying a layer of it over the damaged bricks?

I've considered installing an insert but I really like the open fireplace...

Grateful for ideas/comments!

 

[snuttjulle]

Looks like regular brick and not refractory brick, and if that's the case, it won't hold. Possibly, it's possible to place thin refractory brick on top of this after the loose parts have been knocked off.

 

[Dan_Johansson]

The only advantage I can see with an open fireplace is that you can grill sausages indoors ... otherwise, it's just disadvantages ...

If you want a chance to actually heat up the room, the insert is invaluable ...

 

[EAS88]

Sorry for the late reply!

The choice was made to repair with fireproof mortar. Now I've patched up the major damages, and tomorrow the plan is to coat the entire inside with the same mortar. The packaging states that it is used, among other things, for coating the inside of chimneys, so hopefully it will work in the actual fireplace as well.

 

[EAS88]

Posting one last picture to show the finished end result. Instead of polishing, I slapped on a thin layer of loosely mixed mortar to create a uniform feel. I also took the opportunity to touch up the remaining plaster around the fireplace.

 

[Olaf3]

It will probably be fine, but I'll say as someone wrote in a previous post that an open fireplace is good for many things except providing warmth indoors.

 

[Silver78]

Sure, you are "heating for the crows" with an open fireplace, but it has an incredible cozy factor. Then with a cassette, much stricter requirements come as the exhaust fumes become threefold. I had to install an insert with vermiculite insulation to get it approved.

 

[EAS88]

Sure, you're heating the outside with an open fireplace, but it has an awesome coziness factor. Then with a cassette, much stricter requirements follow as the smoke emissions triple. I had to install an insert with vermelit insulation to get it approved.

Sharing a picture of the coziness factor

 

[Ccmm]

[image] [image] Posting a final picture to show the finished result. Instead of plastering, I applied a thin layer of loosely mixed mortar to create a uniform feel. I also took the opportunity to touch up the rest of the plaster around the fireplace.[image]

[image] [image] Posting a final picture to show the finished result. Instead of plastering, I applied a thin layer of loosely mixed mortar to create a uniform feel. I also took the opportunity to touch up the rest of the plaster around the fireplace.[image]

It turned out really nice. Did you need to clean all the black parts beforehand?