I've cut out the hole for the soot door in the chimney and blocked the flue below the opening.
All I need is for the soot door to arrive, and some ventilation once the soot door is fitted.
Now it was a real bastard clearing off the rock hard render and cutting the three brick hole for the soot door.
I could cut another brick out (but it would have to be further up the chimney as the door is at a dog leg).
Alternatively I could just drill some holes through the brick.
So - apart from looking a bit random as opposed to neat, any reason not to drill holes instead of knocking a brick out?
Cheers
Dave R