I just tore out the brick in my old fireplace and this is what I ended up with. I was looking to have a nice surround with a mantel. With all of this uneven level surface where do I begin?
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I think we need some pictures, but I can imagine that what you're seeing is a bunch of concrete block or brick in a sort of jumble, with no smooth surface. The brick you tore off was the functional front of the fireplace and may have actually been necessary for its structural integrity.
You'll likely need a skilled mason (not just a hack) to fix it up for you.
Yea that is probably what I am seeing. Attached is a picture so I'm assuming it's now time to hire a mason.
I'm assuming it's now time to hire a mason.
And also a house mover, to turn the house right side up.
(At least it all appears to be relatively solid. If your intent is to use some sort of insert or faux fireplace then a full-out masonary repair may not be required -- you can perhaps face it with tile or some such. If you want to burn logs you need the mason, however.)
Mason just quoted me for $1200 to plaster it all over and level it to include the hearth. So much for DIY. Now time to find a hardwood floor contractor to refinish those whole I'm at it.