How can I create an effective seal around my fireplace

[anonymous-user]

[redacted]

[thebraketester]

Brick acid?

[ChocolateFrog]

A wet/dry vacuum

[wolfracesonic]

You can buy proprietary soot removers, Google is your friend there: the build up on the sides doesn’t look like soot build up, rather the black mortar your house is built with, the bricks may have been parged with it. What are your plans for it, exposed brickwork? I’ve done a few over the years and haven’t bothered about removing every last trace of soot, just removed any mortar snots, replaced any really damaged bricks and re-pointed using a black dyed mortar with a recessed joint, they look quite effective.

[wolfracesonic]

Never actually used it but I’ve read about trisodium phosphate, again, Google should help.

[trickywoo]

I’d be ‘veneering’ over the top with something like this https://brick-slips.uk/

[OutInTheShed]

Chimney sweeps sometimes use some kind of tent with dust extraction?

If wire brushing works, then wet sanding or scrubbing is perhaps an option?

[Simpo Two]

Your plant doesn't look too happy about it either...

[GasEngineer]

What about something like this that you attach to your hoover.

https://marshallindustrial.co.uk/v-tuf-core-drilli...