How can I cover up ugly bricks on the chimney breast? Can I plaster directly over the brick facade or will the heat cause the plaster to loosen?

fix stainless steel mesh and roughing beads to chimney breast plug and screwing,then a SBR Chemical water proofer scratch coat,then top coat then terrilean/K.Rend the finish! then sandtex paint! good roofer/plasterer will give you price,and scaffold needed. this is the proper way!!! we can help if your southwest area,post the job kieran

You can use a heat resitant plaster such as. http://www.woodburning-stoves.co.uk/everbuild-heat-resistant-3372-400297?utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=GB&utm_campaign=GoogleBase This could be expensive if it is a large area. A sand cement and lime mix 5:1:1 render is more heat resistant that gypsum plaster. Another option is to clad the area with a fire proof board stuck with Sika Flex (from Screwfix or other). But this is hard to get a smooth finish as plaster won't work well on it. Porcelain tiles are heat proof, I used large fake slate 300mm x 600mm around a wood stove and works fine, just need flexible grout with extra latex and flexible adhesive. Just a few ideas Jason