This is one of my week end projects. Though it was a week end effort for me from start to end was almost a month. The project is to mount a Mantle above my fireplace. The fireplace already had a surround but no Mantle. The first step was to identify the right Mantle that will go with the surround. After multiple visits Home Depot, Lowes and multiple internet sites we (Me and my wife) finally settled on a firelight 5ft mantle which I thought will go well with our fireplace surround. After coming home ripped the covering from the Mantle, tried it on the space of the fireplace only to realize that the surround is shorter than Mantle, which by itself should not be problem as long the authority for fireplace Mantle codes (which in this is my Wife) agrees to. After numerous mock up mounting (basically me holding the Mantle in place by sitting below the shelf level) it was decided we need to get a 6ft Mantle. So another trip to the shop and after my apologies and explanation to the customer service person and another round of search for the right piece we found one which will match the codes specified by AFFM.
So the first tip in installing a fire place Mantle is to check with your AFFM (which could be your significant half or anyone who has a complete control over the decisions you make). Now I want to share my experience on mounting the shelf.
Choose a day when you are sure the AFFM will not be home. I was lucky enough to get a Sunday when a girls day out was planned. Sure there would be a lot of people out there would be thinking, what a waste of time. But you can’t imagine the amount of freedom you get to complete the project without someone saying ‘I see a hair line of brush stroke, on the right hand side corner’ which you cannot see even when you the most powerful microscope.
Once you choose the right day, you need to get the right tools. In my case I picked up a 6.5V Drill\Driver which was not really good enough to get the job done. I ended up with a 2 Inch screw protruding outside the mantel which I had to nail in. Tools you would require are
1. Drill\Driver
2. A Philips screw driver
3. Pencil
4. Hammer
5. Stud finder
Remove the Mantel from the package and ensure that all the things listed in the installation guide (which really a is piece of paper with some basic instructions on it). This will save you from another trip to the shop and people there eyeing you with suspicion when you wander up and down Aisle 12 looking for a 2inch number 6 screw.
The Mantel which I bought came with a DVD. DVD gives a short video on how to install the Mantel. Run through this at least 2-3 times. This will help you in sorting out any issues you might have later.
Once you have watched the video remove the cleats (basically two wooden rods with pre-drilled holes on which you mount the Mantel) from the hollow part. This turned out to be really tricky one, as the manufacturer decided to stick these cleats to the inside of the Mantel where even a small hand cannot reach. Use a long knife to pry the cleat from the point where it’s stuck. If you are lucky enough you will get it out in one piece. If not you are in real trouble and have to make round trip to the shop, explain what happened….
Mark the center point of the fireplace. Place the Mantel above the fire place with the length extending evenly on both sides. With a pencil draw a line along the top portion of the mantel from end to end.
Remove the mantel, and use a stud finder to two studs on both side of the center. Mark these points. The installing instructions will come with a template which you align with the top of the (line marked) Mantel and punch a hole in the place where the template says so. Make sure that these holes are on a stud. If not adjust the position of the hole. With the cleat as template mark the spots where the studs are.
Screw in the cleats (See picture 1). This completes about 50% of the task. If your Mantel is not painted (which in most case its not) choose to stain it or paint it with a color of you choice. Choose the color at your own risk.
So the first tip in installing a fire place Mantle is to check with your AFFM (which could be your significant half or anyone who has a complete control over the decisions you make). Now I want to share my experience on mounting the shelf.
Choose a day when you are sure the AFFM will not be home. I was lucky enough to get a Sunday when a girls day out was planned. Sure there would be a lot of people out there would be thinking, what a waste of time. But you can’t imagine the amount of freedom you get to complete the project without someone saying ‘I see a hair line of brush stroke, on the right hand side corner’ which you cannot see even when you the most powerful microscope.
Once you choose the right day, you need to get the right tools. In my case I picked up a 6.5V Drill\Driver which was not really good enough to get the job done. I ended up with a 2 Inch screw protruding outside the mantel which I had to nail in. Tools you would require are
1. Drill\Driver
2. A Philips screw driver
3. Pencil
4. Hammer
5. Stud finder
Remove the Mantel from the package and ensure that all the things listed in the installation guide (which really a is piece of paper with some basic instructions on it). This will save you from another trip to the shop and people there eyeing you with suspicion when you wander up and down Aisle 12 looking for a 2inch number 6 screw.
The Mantel which I bought came with a DVD. DVD gives a short video on how to install the Mantel. Run through this at least 2-3 times. This will help you in sorting out any issues you might have later.
Once you have watched the video remove the cleats (basically two wooden rods with pre-drilled holes on which you mount the Mantel) from the hollow part. This turned out to be really tricky one, as the manufacturer decided to stick these cleats to the inside of the Mantel where even a small hand cannot reach. Use a long knife to pry the cleat from the point where it’s stuck. If you are lucky enough you will get it out in one piece. If not you are in real trouble and have to make round trip to the shop, explain what happened….
Mark the center point of the fireplace. Place the Mantel above the fire place with the length extending evenly on both sides. With a pencil draw a line along the top portion of the mantel from end to end.
Remove the mantel, and use a stud finder to two studs on both side of the center. Mark these points. The installing instructions will come with a template which you align with the top of the (line marked) Mantel and punch a hole in the place where the template says so. Make sure that these holes are on a stud. If not adjust the position of the hole. With the cleat as template mark the spots where the studs are.
Screw in the cleats (See picture 1). This completes about 50% of the task. If your Mantel is not painted (which in most case its not) choose to stain it or paint it with a color of you choice. Choose the color at your own risk.
Now mount the Mantel over the cleats. Ensure that it’s aligned properly to the center. Pre-drill some holes on the Mantel where the cleats are. Use a 2in finishing nail or #6 screws, and drive thru the Mantel and the cleats to hold in place. Using a screw is a neat idea, if you want to remove the Mantel at a later time without much effort.
This BLOG is more of to share my experience and is definitely not an absolute guide for installing Mantels. But for those who out there thinking will I be able to do it, I would say yes you can.
