Things You'll Need:
- Distressed wood such as the wood reclaimed from a barn for the mantel itself
- Pine lumber 2 x 4 foot wood for the support
- Painter's tape
- Wood saw
- Nails
- Hammer
- Construction-grade, non-flammable adhesive
- Leveler
-
Step 1
Measure the desired dimensions of your mantel shelf, and mark in painter's tape.
-
Step 2
Cut the pine lumber into pieces that will fit the dimensions of the mantel shelf. Use a leveler to make sure you'll install the pine lumber support at exactly 180 degrees.
-
Step 3
Apply construction-grade, non-flammable adhesive to the the pine lumber panels if there are no studs in your wall. If there are, locate them and nail the pine lumber panels into the wall.
-
Step 4
Nail your reclaimed or distressed rustic wood panels over the pine lumber, covering its dimensions exactly.
-
Step 5
Use an especially wide piece of reclaimed wood as the "crown" or "cornice piece," otherwise known as the mantel shelf. Nail it into the pine lumber to create a shelf.
-
Step 6
If the shelf doesn't feel sturdy, you can bolster it by cutting two 90 degree triangles and wedging them at each corner of the shelf, using construction-grade, non-flammable adhesive or nails to attach, depending on the brittleness of your wood.
-
Step 7
If desired, apply a sealant or stain. Make sure whatever sealant or stain you use is non-flammable.
