How to Build a Wooden Fireplace Mantle

Build your own wooden mantel

A wooden fireplace mantel adds warmth, style and value to your home and your fireplace. It provides a flat surface to decorate with collectibles, holiday items or portraits and pictures. Imagine the fireplace mantel decorated for the holidays, with stockings, candles or other items that fit your home's decorating style and your family's beliefs and traditions.

Things You'll Need

• Ruler
• Measuring tape
• Hand-held sander
• Sandpaper
• Professional grade wood glue
• Bar clamps
• Finishing nails
• Nail set
• Wood filler
• 1 timber, 9 ½ by 88 inches
• 1 timber, 10 by 65 inches
• 1 timber, 8 by 71 inches
• 2 timbers, 8 by 51 ½ inches
• 2 timbers, 6 by 55 ½ inches
• 2 timbers, 5 by 55 ½ inches
• 1 crown molding, 4 by 86 ¾ inches
• 2 crown moldings, 4 inches by 8 ½ inches
• Stain
• Sponge brushes
• Old cloths
• Brick or concrete screws

Instructions

1. Measure your fireplace to make sure the dimensions for this project will fit. Have the mantel 1 foot above the fire pit and 6 inches away from the sides. Adjust the dimensions to fit your particular situation, and have your local building supply store cut all of your wood pieces following your specifications.

2. Use the handheld sander to sand all pieces. Sand the edges of the wood first and then sand the flat surfaces.

3. Use wood glue and bar clamps to fasten the inner horizontal top board to the inner vertical boards. Allow the glue to dry for 24 to 48 hours.

4. Use wood glue and bar clamps to fasten the outer horizontal top board to the outer vertical boards. Allow the glue to dry for 24 to 48 hours.

5. Lay the inner and outer boards flush. Glue and clamp in place. Nail together with finishing nails.

6. Glue and nail crown molding to outer boards. Set nails, fill holes with wood filler, and sand smooth.

7. Use the sponge brush and apply a small amount of stain following the grain of the wood. Allow the stain to dry overnight, and repeat the process.

8. Drill holes in the mantel at the bottom of the horizontal piece on both sides. Drill two more holes about 12 inches apart down each side of the vertical pieces. Attach the mantel to the wall with brick or concrete screws through these holes.

Tips & Warnings

• You can have the home store or building supply cut the exact size of timbers for you.

• Before adding the wooden mantel, check with the building codes in your community to be sure you comply.

• Have your crown molding ends cut at 45-degree angles so the top and sides will fit together to form a 90-degree angle.

• Leaving all pieces straight will simplify the procedure and ensure that your wooden mantel doesn't go out of style.

References

• build a fireplace mantel

Resources

• fireplace mantels