Asked on diynot.com but its a bit slow over there.

Had the old back boiler and gas fire removed from the chimney breast in front room, Were hoping to put in a multi-fuel stove in place but quotes are a little out of our price range at the moment,
So in the mean time I want to but a boxed hole in place (ornament box if you will)

I’ve built a stud frame with boxing it off with plywood in mind but I would love smooth edges if possible, which I guess means using plasterboard instead.

Whats your thoughts on this?

My experience in plastering is limited to repairing one hole on a brick wall, which didn’t go so bad.

You could line it with plasterboard, then use easifil filler and end bead to keep a sharp edge. Then just sand until you are happy with the finish.

Not too difficult but dusty

Edit. I mean this stuff

http://www.diy.com/nav/build/building-materials/plastering-plasterboard-coving/plasterers_metal_work/Expamet-Thin-Coat-Angle-Bead-2-4m-9273226

http://www.screwfix.com/p/no-nonsense-plasterers-corner-bead-tape-50mm-x-30m/45720

is your friend.

id be tempted to cut back the front so you have straight edges to work to with the new plasterboard.

double post oops

Are you looking to get something that looks like this? Well without the ugly mug in the mirror.

I just stuck fire line plasterboard to the inside of the current chimney then put on some of the corner stuff trail_rat links to above round the front most edges and got a boy in to skim it.

I just stuck fire line plasterboard to the inside of the current chimney then put on some of the corner stuff trail_rat links to above round the front most edges and got a boy in to skim it.

Thats the one!

How much did you pay to have it skimmed?

I don’t fancy paying any money out, Cant be too hard?! 😕

do you have any of the tools required ?

i invested in a good knife and hawk because i had 4 rooms to plaster – and found the edge of the knife needed some wearing in.

by the time you buy a good knife and hawk and get it worn in youll be a long ways to having it skimmed for you if you have done the leg work.

do you have any of the tools required ?

I own a cheap wilkos plastering trowel and a blunt Stanley knife!
Surely all the materials and tools are still going to be cheaper than getting someone in to do the job, Don’t see myself doing to much plastering after this.

If you’ve got £840 quid you could fit a Town and Country Runswick inset stove if your chimneys sound, you don’t need a liner as the Runswick is designed to go into an unlined chimney, i’d recommend lining the chimney when budget allows.

Dunno filler knife( not stanley knife) iirc was 20 quid

Hawk – was also 20

Joint filler – 20 quid.

Plaster board – hell knows 15 quid a sheet ill guess

15 quid for a roll of corner tape

I reckon if you boarded it up nicely so all the guy had to do was tape it and skim it you could get it done for a similar amount or less…..- and be left with a perfect job. Instead of a niggly finish as my first few goes at plastering were.

Or you could just use wood to box it out for now – stained ply- fit an architrave round the face. Jobs done for about 50 quid total no specialist tools needed.( presuming you own a saw /hammer and nails and know how to mitre)

Plasterboard £15 a sheet,don’t think so,about £8 for a 8×4 sheet,you can screw plasterboard to it,you need to put more timber at the back to screw to or you will have to spend ages cleaning the soot off the back to dry line it,it’s an easy job,do you know a plasterer,would be half a day of a job and would cost about £120 including materials,I do this everyday.

Well i did say i didnt know. The plasterboard fairy brings mine 🙂

If you’ve got £840 quid you could fit a Town and Country Runswick inset stove if your chimneys sound, you don’t need a liner as the Runswick is designed to go into an unlined chimney, i’d recommend lining the chimney when budget allows.
He said he doesn’t want to pay a plasterer,so he obviously hasn’t hot £840

I admire people getting stuck in to building work,believe you me I’ve seen tradesmen do worse jobs than customers so have a go it won’t turn out bad.

Just got back to this, think it was about £50 to get it skimmed.