BLOG & DIY PROJECTS

"it depends" on your fireplace

Here at Rustic Roots Reclaimed we get asked about how to properly install reclaimed wood fireplace mantels. The answer we give is "it depends".

There are millions of different fireplace hearth designs in the US. Every fireplace design is different from the next and how the mantel should be mounted varies by what you are mounting it too.

The easiest way to break down the best way to hang your reclaimed wood fireplace mantel is to put your project into one of 2 categories. Those 2 categories are renovation or new construction. Putting your mantel project into one of these categories helps us to give answers to "it depends".

Let's start with a renovation.

Typically with a renovation our clients are replacing their built in or builder designed wood fireplace surround. In doing so you are starting with a blank slate or close to a blank slate. In a renovation if you are removing all of the surround and you have access to the studs it is best to hang the mantel first especially if you are coming back with rock or brick. If you are putting shiplap or some other wall covering on the wall where the mantel will be mounted it is best to put that material up and then mount your mantel to the wall. One very important part of mounting a mantel to shiplap wall is that you have a flat surface(the wall) and we are trying to mount a 150 year old hand hewn beam that is not perfectly straight so we need a straight backside to the mantel.

Mantels have 4 sides and each side is unique and could be used for the front of the mantel. So after you choose a mantel and you are mounting it directly to a flat surface such as brick, shiplap or barn wood you'll need to pick the backside of the mantel. Folks generally decide fairly easily as they usually find a side they love so the back is opposite that side. You then will need a bracket to hold your reclaimed mantel to the wall. At Rustic Roots we sell Ultrashelf brand floating mantel brackets. These brackets hold hundreds of pounds of weight and are easy to install.

After you have chosen your backside and have had the backside flattened we then route out the back of the mantel and drill the holes for the floating bracket rods. The fit of the bracket is very tight it is imperative that all of your holes are straight. As a 6" metal rod will not go into a hole that is off centered 1/16" of an inch.  We then route the back out this allows the bracket to be recessed into the back of the mantel so that your mantel bracket disappears after mounting the mantel. Installation is simple. The most important part is to makes sure that your bracket is level and that it is secured to the wall. Once you have mounted the bracket the mantel simply slides over the bracket!

Now if we have a new construction and we are building a beautiful brick or rock fireplace it is best to hang the mantel first. The reason is fairly simple...it is extremely difficult to mount a straight beam to an uneven surface. Rock is especially uneven and so we highly suggest that the mantel be hung using the same process as above. Then after it is mounted to the studs the mantel can be wrapped with plastic to keep mortar and debris off it and rock can be put up surrounding the mantel and hearth.

If you have brick going up we still feel it is best to mount the bracket and mantel first.  However if this is not possible it's okay! We simply follow the process of jointing the backside of the mantel, routing and drilling our holes, securing the bracket with concrete screws and then sliding the mantel over the bracket.

We have a short video here showing the backside, the bracket and the routing so you can better understand. Of course if you have any questions or are in the Atlanta and surrounding area give us a shout or swing by the shop. We are located in historic downtown Monroe GA