Fireplace Mantel FAQS

Fireplace Mantel Shelf

Your Mantel Questions Answered Here

Here are some common questions people ask about their fireplace mantel shelf. Read through these FAQs and get answers to your questions.

What materials are mantels often made of?
The material of a fireplace mantel varies. Common materials include:

* Wood
* Marble
* Stone

Other materials are available. You just need to shop around and ask. Check out the fireplace mantel ideas and buying guide for more information and great advice.

What fireplace measurements do I need to consider when selecting a mantel shelf?
When selecting a mantel, measure the width of the fireplace from edge to edge. It's common to have a fireplace mantel shelf that extends past the width of the fireplace; you just want to make sure it's not too short.

How do I mount a fireplace mantel shelf?
To properly mount fireplace mantel shelves, you must first measure the length of your fireplace, establish how far up you want the mantel, find the center, and mark the wall with a pencil. Installing a mantel depends on the material it's made of and the material of the wall you're mounting it to. Often you need to establish wall studs and/or brackets to mount the mantel to the wall. The specific fireplace mantel shelf you purchase should come with the mantelpiece as well as instructions.

What is a fireplace surround?
A fireplace surround is a specific style of mantel that has "legs" that run along side the fireplace. These legs are attached to the mantel and mounted to the wall. Most mantels are just a flat horizontal piece of wood mounted above the fireplace. Fireplace surrounds provide added lines, framing, and accents to your fireplace.

Can I build my own fireplace mantel?
Yes. It is possible to build your own mantelpiece. You can find plans in wood working books and even online. However, if you're not experienced in wood work or have never built your own mantel shelf, it's advised that you consult a professional.

Is it possible to get an unfinished mantel?
Yes. Some manufacturers offer unfinished mantels (a.k.a. unpainted or stained wood mantels). These types of mantels allow you to add whatever color you want or stain it to your liking. If you're shopping for mantels and want to add a personal touch, ask around for unfinished mantels.

What's the typical price range for fireplace mantel shelves?
The price can vary greatly on fireplace mantels. A very basic mantel can run you a couple hundred dollars; however, a higher end mantel shelf could run you a couple thousand. The higher the quality of materials involved, the higher the cost will be.

All three of these elements come into play with a fireplace mantel.

The size of your fireplace: This is probably the most crucial element you need to keep in mind when browsing fireplace mantel ideas and possibilities. You want to measure all dimensions of your fireplace and have them on-hand. The last thing you want to do is guess on the size - you might end up with a mantel that's too short or too tall.

The wall space available: The amount of wall space available will dictate the maximum size you can get. It's not uncommon to have a mantel shelf that extends past the width of the fireplace. If you want a long fireplace mantel shelf, measure how much wall space you have. As they say, measure twice, cut once (in this case, it's measure twice, buy once - you don't want to end up with a mantel that's too long and have to go back and buy another).

The décor of the room: This is where you narrow down your fireplace mantel ideas. Once you start shopping around, you'll quickly discover that you have a ton of colors, shapes, sizes, makes, materials, and appearances to choose from. So, always consider the décor of the room where the mantel will be mounted. You want your fireplace mantel to accent your fireplace and blend with the room. If you're looking for a fireplace mantel for a cabin, stick with the antique, rugged models, if that's the décor of the room. Picking a mantel shelf that doesn't blend with the room can turn an exquisite mantel into an eye sore.

You have more fireplace mantel options than you think. From wooden to marble and even antique looking mantels, you have your work cut out for you. Use this guide to help you narrow down your fireplace mantel ideas and pick the best one for your fireplace. If you have questions, check out our fireplace mantel shelf FAQs.

Question by Suzi♥Squirrel: How do i make a fireplace mantel look like a real fireplace?
I purchased the mantel from an architectural salvage place. I would like to use it, but I don't have a fireplace. Thought about trying to make it look real and put wood or candles in it. Any ideas, tips, pictures....thanks

Best answer:

Answer by Wilber
Paint the wall behind the mantel glossy black, place a picture of a fire or logs on a grate on the wall and put your glass or screen in front of this.

What do you think? Answer below!

Finding Quality Fireplace Mantels

Fireplace mantel surrounds offer wonderful options for your interior design. There is a wide variety of choices that you can browse and there are also some choices to make in the kind of fireplace mantel surrounds you purchase. Some units are user-friendly while others require some skill.

I thought that we were going to have a really hard time finding a product to suit our needs. Our fireplace mantel surrounds need to accommodate tile settings already in the unit. I really wasn’t keen on the idea of losing the beautiful tile just because we needed a new fireplace mantel surrounds. While this did limit our options just a bit, we didn’t have any trouble finding a great product to suit our home.

The next obstacle was agreeing on whether we wanted to paint our fireplace mantel surrounds or whether we wanted hardwood. Considering that we have hard wood floors all through the house, the latter seemed like the appropriate choice. However, we found that painting our fireplace mantel surrounds would be a better option.

Even though the place we were buying from offered unfinished wood, we found that this wasn’t the best approach. Matching the hardwood flooring to the wood used for the fireplace unit would be too difficult and we really wanted to add some unusual color in the home. We already have wood beams on the ceiling and wooden baseboards. It seemed as if adding more wood in the fireplace mantle surrounds was just overkill.

The third thing we had to consider before choosing which of the many fireplace mantel surrounds would suit our space was which kit to buy. There are two basic types offered by the store we browsed: the Homeowner and the Builder. Just by the names of these kits, I had a pretty good idea that we were going to choose the Homeowner kit for our home.

The major difference between the two types of fireplace mantel surrounds kits is the skill required to put the pieces together. Considering that the Builder kit requires a miter saw, we immediately opted to buy the Homeowner’s kit. I’m glad we did.

All we had to do was put the preassembled pieces together and attach them to the wall. Everything we needed was included in the kit and we had the whole thing up and running in little time at all. The instructions were a breeze to follow and I would recommend this option for anyone who is interested in fireplace mantel surrounds.