Fire Things Up – Build a Fireplace Mantel
If you love the look of your new mantelshelf and want to go a step further on your next fireplace project, consider building an entire fireplace surround. A mantel provides a decorative frame for your fireplace and a wonderful focal point. And by the way, you don’t even need a real fireplace to install a mantal! Once you have it installed, simply paint the the inside of the surround black, add some decorative tiles in front to stimulate a hearth, add a couple of candles, and you’ve created a faux fireside in an otherwise plain room.
For this project, you can use a prepackaged mantel kit from a home center or lumberyard or be creative and design your own from custom-milled moldings. Have accurate measurements and makre sure to have a scale sketch of your fireplace in hand when you go shopping for materials. Use your drill to make holes where the materials will be installed to determine what kind of solid backing (if any) is behind the wall where the mantel will be installed. If you are designing your own mantel, buy samples of available moldings and use wood glue to assemble short models of the sides, frieze board, and mantelshelf to help you visualize the design. When you have your design eact, ask your lumber center to mill the moldings to your specifications.
What you need: Fireplace mantel kit or premium wood boards and custom-milled moldings, anchors, safety glasses, power drill with masonry bit, mallet or hammer, rags, backsaw and milter box (if applicable), wood glue, nails, sandpaper, painters tape, stain and polyurethane or primer and trim paint and steel wool.
How to get it done:
- Attach the wood surround to the wall using appropriate fasteners. If you are attaching the surround to a masonry wall, use expansion anchors. Locate the fasteners where they will be covered by moldings.
- Put on safety glasses. Drill a hole using a masonry bit to fit the particular diameter and length of the extension anchor. When drilling into a masonry wall, I recommend operating the power drill at the highest speed abd backing it out frequently to pull out masonry debris and dust that will clog the hole and over heat the drill.
- Insert the anchor in the hole and tap it flush with the wall using a mallet or hammer covered with a rag to protect the surface of the wall. Repeat the process with the remaining anchors.
- Because you followed the golden rule of “measure twice, cut once” when ordering your custom-cut moldings, everything will fit precisely. If not, you may need a backsaw and miter box to make adjustments. Glue all joints, wiping off any excess glue with a damp cloth. Glue on the wood will prevent the stain from adhering properly. Attach the molding to the surround with finishing nails. Countersink any visible nails.
- Sand and clean the surface of the mantel. Tape off the wall and adjoining areas with the painter’s tape. Apply stain, then smooth the surface with steel wool before applying at least three coats of polyurethane or other protective coating. If painting, use a primer, followed by two or more coats of trim paint. Make sure all the products you are using are heat-resistant.
Now you can decorate your mantel any way you like and you built it yourself, Barbara’s Way!