We have a plaster-covered chimney in the 3rd floor home office. However, over the decades, it appears that the plaster has developed many warts, bumps, and patches so that it looks more like hilly countryside than a flat wall.
We are considering a couple of options:
- Trying to scrape off the bumps and repatch (probably though a hopeless task)
- Taking down all the plaster and replastering
- Walling off the chimney with drywall (either with or without first stripping the plaster)
- Any thoughts on what is best?
- What are the code requirements when either plastering over or drywalling off a chimney? Specifically, how much spacing is needed between the chimney and drywall (particuarly if using fire-resistant drywall)? [Note the chimney is now only used to vent our gas hot water heater which goes up through a metal liner]
Thanks