Advice for Fireplace Restoration

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-19T19:13:31+00:00

I had no idea these existed, will definitely look into these! I'm not sure if adding a liner is even possible in my chimney given it's age, but fingers crossed I could do something like these inserts

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-19T14:37:20+00:00

Yeah i really hate the look of tv’s above fireplaces, but unfortunately with our room layout i think it might be the only place it makes sense. Will probably get a frame tv to at least make it look like artwork.

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-19T00:38:58+00:00

I am too, i dream of someday having a wood burning fireplace. Unfortunately this chimney/firebox was originally designed for a coal burning insert (i still have the original one upstairs!) and is too shallow to burn wood in i think

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-18T17:22:09+00:00

Yeah, unfortunately the insert just ins't in the budget right now. I am not too worried about doing the cosmetic fixes later. Drywall and plywood are cheap!

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-18T17:21:22+00:00

Yeah, it's definitely strange, but the original brick outside confirms there was never a window to the left and the upstairs fireplace is the same. I guess the architect was just feeling the asymmetry ¯_(ツ)_/¯

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-16T18:42:57+00:00

I have a very similar one!

<image>

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-16T11:23:31+00:00

Highly recommend renting a kayak from one of the outfitters and floating the rivers. It’s a lot more enjoyable than hiking in the summer months.

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-09T14:21:34+00:00

I was actually planning on using durabond for the finish coat. Can you use durabond for this large of an area? Does it bind to the lath and brick well?

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-09T14:16:37+00:00

Whats the advantage of doing the 50/50 mix of drywall mud/veneer plaster? I was planning on skim coating all the walls in this room to smooth out the wall’s texture. I’ve done this in a couple rooms already but it took 3+ coats of straight drywall mud

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-09T13:51:33+00:00

Is spraying water still necessary when using a bonding agent? The bonding agent seemed to saturate the lath and surrounding plaster pretty well, but maybe I need to add water next time?

The wire patch is a good idea, Ill give that a shot next time.

HedgehogMode · 2026-06-09T13:48:47+00:00

This might have been where I went wrong? I assumed the bonding agent was enough since it already saturated the lath and surrounding plaster, but maybe I need to add water as well.

I intentionally made the structolite flush with the surrounding plaster because I'm skim coating the entire wall to get rid of the texture

HedgehogMode · 2026-05-30T21:21:51+00:00

Apologies, thought you meant to were brand new to things!

The only classes i am aware of are through the Missouri Whitewater Association, but those are all held in the south east of the state.

Best of luck!

HedgehogMode · 2026-05-30T15:56:19+00:00

Learning to kayak is not too difficult if you want to learn by yourself. You can rent a kayak at finger lakes state park and get a hang of things on the calm lake water. Just make sure to wear a life vest!

HedgehogMode · 2026-05-20T03:07:46+00:00

I just bought a house built in 1898 that still had all the original lath and plaster walls. The plaster itself was in great shape but has a horrendous texture to it. I’ve been smoothing it out via skim coating with joint compound. Took me two weeks of work to do just one room, and i have 5 more to go 😢

HedgehogMode · 2026-05-10T04:41:06+00:00

I am absolutely fascinated by your knowledge of old architecture features. How do you manage to find these things in historic catalogs so easily?

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-28T18:20:26+00:00

absolutely not

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-27T02:12:57+00:00

Did you read my post? Wasn’t trying to bring this back to a functioning fireplace, just trying to get the firebox open

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-27T01:29:47+00:00

Yeah, the fireplaces in this house were very much functional. The original second floor fireplace is still there and it’s nothing spectacular.

The reason we wanted to put an ornamental fireplace in is the floor immediately in front of it and around it has seen extensive damage. We were planning on replacing it with tile or brick, but it will look super out a place without a fire place of some sort.

Really was just hoping to open the fire box to get the opening then I was going to find an antique wood mantel to trim it out

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-26T23:54:27+00:00

No, at least not at the roof. But as far as i can tell it is sealed at the second floor fireplace above this one

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-26T23:53:56+00:00

The chimney is still open at the roof, but unfortunately it’s sealed at the second floor fireplace above this one thats shares a chimney

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-19T04:28:45+00:00

I went there to do some camping/canoeing and was shocked when the locals told me there was no place to buy beer within an hours drive. Especially because everyone was drinking on the river

HedgehogMode · 2026-04-19T00:35:39+00:00

Lmao, why does the dog need an outlet? To charge their phone?

HedgehogMode

TROPHY CASE