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Original poster

Would you be embarrassed if your walls were lime this?

120 replies

Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:04

I am massively. Dh thinks it’s not that bad and we’ll get round to painting them. I don’t actually feel comfortable in my own house anymore, so will get the paint and do it all myself

Would you be embarrassed if your walls were lime this?
Would you be embarrassed if your walls were lime this?
Would you be embarrassed if your walls were lime this?
OP posts:
biscuitsandbooks · 02/03/2025 18:01

I personally wouldn't clean or paint that wall until you've had a professional come out to have a look at the entire set-up. They need to see the damage that's currently being done.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 02/03/2025 17:59

You need to clean the wall thoroughly before you paint ( sugar soap is good) or the marks will show through or cause the paint to look uneven, Apologies if you already knew this ( my NDN didn’t, with consequences).

Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:58

AgathaX · 02/03/2025 17:55

Your wood burner needs looking at by a professional. We have an open fire and a wood burner, both used very regularly during the colder months and neither make that mess on our walls.
Apart from that, just buy the paint and paint it. It's really not a big job or a big deal. You might need a primer like zinsser under the paint to cover the stain properly and stop it showing back through.

What sort of professional?

OP posts:
Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:58

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 02/03/2025 17:47

OP, can you stand back and take another picture of the woodburner and fireplace showing the whole thing, and the wall around it please?

Also, do you get your chimney/flue swept and the woodburner serviced by a HETAS registered sweep every year?

Here

Would you be embarrassed if your walls were lime this?
OP posts:
Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:57

I will buy a carbon monoxide detector tomorrow. Should I be asking for a chimney sweep to check it or who?

OP posts:
Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:56

MadKittenWoman · 02/03/2025 17:49

Has it ever been checked / swept? Do you have carbon monoxide detector?

When all is definitely safe, it really doesn't take much time to paint. Wipe off the main stained area with sugar soap and use a one coat hardwearing matt paint to save time. We always choose a Farrow and Bail shade or similar, then get it copied at B & Q for a fraction of the price.

Use a brush to cut in and use a roller for the main part of the wall.

It was checked/swept a few years ago

OP posts:
Crazybaby123 · 02/03/2025 17:56

There is a product called Elbow Grease Magic Eraser that we use to get marks off walls. Got rid of much worse than that. Felt tip, hand prints etc.

Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:55

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 02/03/2025 17:47

OP, can you stand back and take another picture of the woodburner and fireplace showing the whole thing, and the wall around it please?

Also, do you get your chimney/flue swept and the woodburner serviced by a HETAS registered sweep every year?

Feel really embarrassed by the way it currently looks 😔

OP posts:
AgathaX · 02/03/2025 17:55

Your wood burner needs looking at by a professional. We have an open fire and a wood burner, both used very regularly during the colder months and neither make that mess on our walls.
Apart from that, just buy the paint and paint it. It's really not a big job or a big deal. You might need a primer like zinsser under the paint to cover the stain properly and stop it showing back through.

WhatsitWiggle · 02/03/2025 17:55

Use sugar soap and a magic eraser to clean the wall. And when repainting, use a washable vinyl - much easier to keep clean with children.

But echo others that it's not good to have soot above the fireplace.

MadKittenWoman · 02/03/2025 17:49

Has it ever been checked / swept? Do you have carbon monoxide detector?

When all is definitely safe, it really doesn't take much time to paint. Wipe off the main stained area with sugar soap and use a one coat hardwearing matt paint to save time. We always choose a Farrow and Bail shade or similar, then get it copied at B & Q for a fraction of the price.

Use a brush to cut in and use a roller for the main part of the wall.

Megapint · 02/03/2025 17:47

Have you tried just giving them a good wipe down?

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 02/03/2025 17:47

OP, can you stand back and take another picture of the woodburner and fireplace showing the whole thing, and the wall around it please?

Also, do you get your chimney/flue swept and the woodburner serviced by a HETAS registered sweep every year?

biscuitsandbooks · 02/03/2025 17:45

Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:32

It’s like this

Show quote history

Gosh, I hate to add to the posts of doom, but that doesn't look very safe. We've had a wood-burner for years and we've never had any black staining above it.

BourbonsAreOverated · 02/03/2025 17:45

Is it where your DH leans with mucky hands?

BourbonsAreOverated · 02/03/2025 17:44

I’ve always had open fires and never had walls like that.

id bicarb wash or sugar soap them, if that didnt work I’d just paint them. It’s no big deal. Wait til the kids are out and do just crack on. If the kids are home I’ve used a paintbrush and water for them to “help”.

Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:44

I really don’t know as don’t know anything about them, looking online, it seems a fairly common problem that walls can become stained?

OP posts:
MadKittenWoman · 02/03/2025 17:42

Mantle

BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 02/03/2025 17:40

The draw from your chimney should be pulling air into the burner when the door is opened not letting smoke out

MadKittenWoman · 02/03/2025 17:40

OK... sorry, but it looks like a bit of a botch job and doesn't look safe, to be honest. Is the wood / coal burner properly sealed? Is smoke leaking from the chimney? I would get it checked by a professional, then get a carbon monoxide alarm. We have a multi-fuel burner in our basement and it doesn't leave black marks. When you're sure it's safe, I would put up some sort of mantel at leat to reflect the heat down and make it look more 'finished'.

Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:39

Floralnomad · 02/03/2025 17:36

A wood burner or open fire shouldn’t be causing that much black staining , is the hole actually big enough for the unit you have ? I’d be very concerned that you are setting any children up for a lifetime of lung problems . I have COPD and it’s purely down to second hand smoke and open fires when I was a child .

It’s big enough, really worried now, I hope not 😢 I think it stained from when Dh opens the door to put the wood in, I then tried to clean it, which has probably made it more stained tbh

OP posts:
BaronessEllarawrosaurus · 02/03/2025 17:38

I have open coal fires and log burners in fireplaces and have never had that staining in 20 years, something is wrong. What has your chimney sweep said about it?

Floralnomad · 02/03/2025 17:36

A wood burner or open fire shouldn’t be causing that much black staining , is the hole actually big enough for the unit you have ? I’d be very concerned that you are setting any children up for a lifetime of lung problems . I have COPD and it’s purely down to second hand smoke and open fires when I was a child .

Original poster
Toomanynachos · 02/03/2025 17:34

MadKittenWoman · 02/03/2025 17:32

We've been nj this house, Victorian villa, 30 years and never paid anyone to decorate. It's really easy and satisfying. You just need good quality paint and basic materials.

It’s not my forte and not something I have time for. Not looking forward to it

OP posts:
MadKittenWoman · 02/03/2025 17:32

We've been nj this house, Victorian villa, 30 years and never paid anyone to decorate. It's really easy and satisfying. You just need good quality paint and basic materials.