Fireplace mantels are heavy, difficult to install simply offer so much to your fireplace. Whether you're looking for an elegant wood mantel or something simple, we're breaking down how you can install it in your home.

Enjoying fires with your new heavy woods mantel will help you lot make great memories, and your living room is sure to look beautiful.

Purchasing a New Wood Mantel

Before you're able to install a new fireplace mantel you'll accept to buy one. At present finding a place that sells mantels isn't hard at all, but finding the correct mantel for your home isn't like shooting fish in a barrel at all.

Check out our website or Pinterest for forest mantel inspiration. We'd honey to aid you become the right piece of wood for your home but at that place are a number of places where you can notice swell reclaimed wood mantels for your home.

Installing the Heavy Forest Mantel

After you've purchased the mantel, yous'll be ready to start the installation process. We're going to break downwards this process pace by step, including the tools you demand and how to go started. But, if y'all're looking for a more visual arroyo, check out this great video.

Tools Yous'll Need

What tools you apply for the installation of the mantel might depend slightly on whether you're installing the mantel on a brick surface or only a sheetrock surface. Here are all of the tools that you'd need to have on the project.

  • Hammer Drill (for brick installation)
  • Masonry Drill Bit (for brick installation)
  • Circular Saw or Mitt Saw
  • Iii Foot Level
  • Torpedo Level
  • Caulk Gun
  • Screw Driver
  • Drill
  • 3/eight Inch Drill Bit
  • Tape Measure
  • Pencil

That should just most practise it. Depending on the surface you're installing into, there volition likewise be a need for lag bolts and possibly masonry anchors.

Methods for Installation

In that location are a lot of dissimilar means that yous can install a fireplace mantel. Hither are a few of the easiest that tin can work great for DIY installation.

Slide Over Bolts Method

This method is particularly good for those that are installing a mantel in a new home or location where in that location wasn't previously a fireplace. Hither are the steps to follow:

  1. Locate your studs. Whether they're behind freshly installed brick or sheetrock, y'all'll need to find them.
  2. Side by side, you'll demand to drive a 1/2 inch lag screw through each stud that you'll exist using based on the length of your mantel. It'southward ideal if the lag bolts can go through the stud then about ii/3rds of the way into the mantel. It'due south essential that you measure these lags so that they're all at or close to the same acme from the ground.
  3. Cut the heads off of the bolts and hold the mantel up where it would slide onto the bolts. Mark where the bolts would be inserted and drill holes in your mantel where the bolts will slide in.
  4. Employ construction adhesive to the inside of the mantel holes and to the back of the mantel if it will be able to stick to the surface.
  5. Slide it into place and ensure the gum is holding in identify. Allow the glue to dry for 24-hours, and then check the adhesion.

Anchored in Masonry

If you're unable to locate studs backside your stone or brickwork, it is possible to anchor the mantel to the stone or brick, but it'southward crucial that it'due south at least four inches thick in society to back up the mantel effectively. Here's how to do it.

  1. Hammer drill 3/8 inch holes into the stonework.
  2. Employ a lead masonry anchor and an expansion bolt.
  3. Repeat steps iii-5 from above.

Backer Board Installation

Next is the backer board method. Information technology's a straightforward fashion of installing a mantel, and many people would contend that it's easier and stronger.

  1. Kickoff, cut a backer board that is the same depth every bit your masonry surface is thick.
  2. Attach your backer board to each stud that it covers with at least two lag bolts for each stud. Be sure to pre-drill a countersink so that the bolt head can be affluent with your wood.
  3. Temporarily clamp the mantel to the capitalist lath. Pre-drill your screw holes and screw lag bolts through the backer board and into the mantel. Just like before, the bolts will need to be able to encompass effectually 2/3 the mantel depth and the thickness of the backer board.
  4. When you're finished, you lot can finish the masonry work or sheetrock around the mantel.

Stud Supported Corbel

Corbels are often shown fastened to your fireplace mantels, but they likely aren't just a decorative brandish. Corbels can exist attached to the studs backside the mantel and offer a very strong and sturdy mounting structure. Here's how to install this method:

  1. Detect corbels that are around as long as the depth from the within of your studs to the outside of the finished mantel.
  2. Advisedly cut out a tight notch from the corbel where the stud can sit down.
  3. Employ bolts through the corbel and stud to spike them together.
  4. Install the masonry or sheetrock around the fireplace and finish it.
  5. Apply adhesive to the top of your corbels, position the mantel where it will sit, and clamp information technology until dry.

This method works great, and information technology'south really quite easy if you can access the studs. Nosotros highly recommend it because it tin look great as well.

reclaimed wood mantel above warm fireplace

We hope this guide helps yous install your new wood fireplace mantel. Remember to always have your time, measure twice and drill once. Making mistakes on projects similar this can actually cost you. It'south ideal that yous're able to get that mantel installed without whatever big hiccups.

Our reclaimed wood fireplace mantels will human action as the focal point in your home. Because our mantels are fabricated from reclaimed forest beams, they're total of graphic symbol and tin can be finished to fit whatever your needs might be. Dark forest, lighter wood, and everything in-betwixt is available at our showroom.

Reach out for a free quote today.