[lumberslinger178]

Originally Posted by JJBroc

Thanks, it was built in 1976.

I am contemplating doing the brick repair work myself. I have never worked with mortar and bricks before (virgin mason) so let me know if you think it is too much. I don’t know what I could mess up. It is not a structural wall, just cosmetics. There is no second floor and the mantle ends at the ceiling.

There are two walls to the mantle an interior and exterior (backside facing my living room). Nothing I have done has affected the exterior wall.

In Pic 1 and 2, above the plywood they used partial bricks. The plywood is cemented in. So that potion of wall has to be knocked down (about a 3’ wide by 2’ tall section), plywood pulled out and rebuilt with bricks the long way.

Then they used cinder blocks on the inside upper right corner. They came right out but that has to be rebuilt with bricks as well.

In Pic 3 and 4 on the right side of the stove, where cuddy hole wall the joined the back wall, there are some bricks sticking out the long way. Only 5 or 6 of these rows will be visible once I put the stove and 24” cabinet in. I know I can knock out the long bricks sticking out, but don’t know if I can put 3/4 - 7/8 size bricks in the long way to fill the holes.

I think a stainless back-splash could be used to cover a majority of the bricks on the right side above the stove (pending the bosses approval). But I want to try to fix it.

Does anyone think I should try this or am I better off getting a mason?

I think a stainless back-splash could be used to cover a majority of the bricks on the right side above the stove (pending the bosses approval). But I want to try to fix it.

I think you took the words rite out of my mouth , mite be alot of work weaveing those bricks in , keep up the good work.