Fireplace Mantel Shelves

A fireplace mantel shelf, or mantelpiece, can sometimes serve as the focal point for the architectural design of a room.  There is a wide variety of styles and materials for the mantel, that shelf that sits over the fireplace opening.  Wood, marble or stone can be used.

The style of fireplace mantel shelves is normally used to enhance the overall space where the fireplace is located.  It can be more modern or traditional. Prior to World War II, many homes had additional woodwork, called an overmantel, above the shelf.  A more contemporary feel can be achieved with granite or a simple slab of marble.  Natural slate tiles and wood can update a plain old brick fireplace.

A custom design for a fireplace mantel can get quite expensive.  This will offer greater choice in both materials and design, but will require architectural drawings and most likely a professional installation.

If you’re looking for something to go with your older home, there are some great finds in salvage yards.  They often have hundreds of wood fireplace mantel shelves in stock with unique hand-carvings.  That can be a less expensive way to go, but may still require a carpenter to put it in if the size is different from your existing fireplace.  Fire codes could be an issue due to the narrowness of older fireplace mantels.  These kinds of alterations generally need to be done by a professional.

Ease and Expense

If you’re more inclined to “keep it simple” the prefabricated mantel may be your best bet.  You’ll still have a good selection in style and material, and they will be less expensive than the custom or salvage mantels.  You could get a great bargain with a simple painted wood mantel, or choose hardwood with elaborate woodwork.  These will generally come in pieces, called adjustable mantels, which can be trimmed and finished with some traditional touches, such as medallions or dentil moldings.  A painted wood mantel is the easiest to install, as it just needs to be level and plumb before it’s screwed into the studs and caulked around the perimeter to fill any gaps.

Prefab stone fireplace mantels can vary in price, with the higher-end hand-carved marble or limestone running as much as $20,000.  But cast-stone mantels molded from cement and crushed stone or fine sand is affordable and attractive.  There are even hollow one-piece molded mantels that look like stone which are also reasonably priced. There are still some tricks to installation that may be better handled by a pro.  Some people are choosing a gas insert to save expense, and reaping the benefits of easy maintenance and a vent-free model if the chimney doesn’t work anymore.

You may find that upgrading the fireplace mantel shelf will lead you to consider a change in the face masonry and/or the hearth too, especially if you’re going with a different style.  This could also run into some money, but giving the whole fireplace a facelift could really harmonize your home renovation.

Your choice of a fireplace mantel shelf is like picking out a fine piece of furniture that will be permanent, so it’s worth carefully considering the many options, and investing well.

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