Would you be embarrassed if your walls were lime this?

[Toomanynachos]

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

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'.

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

Mantle

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?

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”.

Is it where your DH leans with mucky hands?

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.

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?

Have you tried just giving them a good wipe down?

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.

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.

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.

Feel really embarrassed by the way it currently looks 😔

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.

It was checked/swept a few years ago

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

Here

What sort of professional?

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).

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.

If your wood burner is doing that to the wall above it, it is leaking particulate out which is very damaging to your lungs. I suggest you get the fire serviced asap and don’t use it until it has been done. Painting grimy walls is the least of your worries!

A chimney sweep. What are you burning in it?

Does your husband not have a job, a child and a dog too?

You should have your chimney swept and your burner serviced once a year if you use it regularly. I'm glad you are getting a carbon monoxide detector!

Wood?