How to Build a Fire Mantle Place

Whether or not your home has a fireplace, a mantel can enhance the look of any room in your house. A quick and simple mantel plan is to create a box shape with a missing back. The mantel is then mounted on the wall over a 2-by-4-inch board. This style mantel is easy to create and lends itself to any form of decoration you want to add, whether painted motifs or the items you choose to set on top.

Things You'll Need

• 2 1-inch-thick plywood, 8 inches by 4 feet for top and bottom
• 1 1-inch plywood, 6 inches by 4 feet for the mantel front
• 2 1-inch plywood, 4 by 8 inches for the sides
• Hammer
• Nails
• Wood glue
• Sandpaper
• Wood stain or paint
• Level
• 1 2-by-4-inch board, 3 feet 10 inches long
• Drill and 2½-inch screws

Instructions

1. 

   Set one of the 8-inch-by-4-foot boards on the ground. Along one lengthwise edge, set the 6-inch-by-4-foot board up against the base board. The smaller board should not be sitting on top of the base board, but running alongside it with the bottom edges being flush. Nail every 6 inches through the 6-inch board into the base board.

2. Adjust both of the 4-by-8-inch boards to sit on the ends of the large base board. The 4-by-8-inch boards should run flush to the base board and the edge of the front of the mantel. There will be a 1 inch gap at the top where the side boards are not as tall as the front board. Nail the front board into the side boards.

3. Set the final board, the top of the mantel, down over the 4-by-8-inch boards and against the front board. Nail every 6 inches through the front board to attach the top. Nail the top to the side boards using two nails on each side.

4. Flip the unit over and nail down through the bottom into the side boards to finish attaching. Rotate the mantel back around. Sand, paint or stain the mantel as desired, leaving time to dry before attaching to the wall.

5. Locate the place on the wall where you want to position the mantel. Level the mantel against the wall. Trace a line along the top edge of the mantel onto the wall. Mount your 2-by-4-inch board running just 1/2 inch below the traced line with the 4 inch width up against the wall. Attach the 2-by-4 to the wall with four screws spaced evenly apart.

6. 

   Mount the mantel onto the 2-by-4 through the hole in the back. It should be a nice fit around the 2-by-4. Screw down through the top and sides of the mantel and into the 2-by-4 to secure the mantel to the wall.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the mantel longer than 4 feet if desired. Different fireplaces tend to run different sizes. Some mantels are as long as 6 feet, if not longer. Simply adjust the measurements as needed. Add wood glue to any of the joints to add extra stability.

• Always wear the appropriate protective gear when doing any woodworking project.

References

• Build a full size mantel

Resources

• Mantels available online