Building a Mantel

In many homes (both old and new constructions) the fireplace is a central focal point in the living area, family room, or even in the master bedroom – which makes building a mantel for your fireplace a great project to undertake if your fireplace doesn't have one already (or if  you want to replace an existing mantel for whatever reason).

When building a mantel, the great thing is that you do not have to go for existing pre-fabricated looks but can instead opt for a more customized mantel that greater reflects your style while it won't eat into your remodeling or renovation budget like a pre-fabricated or custom ordered fireplace mantel can.  Whether your style is rustic or refined, building a mantel gives you a chance to put your creativity to work.

Building a Mantel: Planning Phase

Planning the design of your mantel is important.  There are tons of mantel plans on the market (available in books, publications, online, and at your local library) that you can use to help you complete a customized mantel, or you can follow these plans for the entire build.  You must also take into considerations the area that the mantel will be installed in and take careful measurements.

Keep in mind that most fireplace mantels are heavy to start with, but you will also likely be loading yours down with knick-knacks and mementos, photographs, and more – so be sure that any reinforcements to the wall where the fireplace will hang as needed.  Depending on your tastes, you might also consider a building a free standing mantel that has legs supporting a mantel piece and is secured to the wall.

Sketch the design when building a mantel, and be sure to take extra careful measurements.  A good rule of thumb is to measure at least three times for every measurement that you make.  A bit of extra time spent measuring is time well-spent when because doing so will help you avoid costly cuts that are made in error – which can make the cost of building a mantel even greater.

Tools and Materials List for Building a Mantel

When building a mantel, the tools and materials that you will need vary from design to design, although the most common are:

• miter saw
• sandpaper
• hammer
• brad nailer
• cordless drill
• paint brush
• wood stock (usually 1X1s)
• moldings
• wood putty
• heavy screws (at least 3")
• stain or varnish as needed

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