Q. I recently purchased a 1925 house that had a bulge on an inside wall abutting the chimney. Pulling off the plaster revealed some sloppy brickwork that had been patched over. I’m planning to install new gas heat that will eliminate the need for this chimney. What would be the most economical way to fix this? Can I break the bricks back a bit and just plaster over everything?

— Matt Collins, Boxford