How to Install a Wood Fireplace Mantel (Mickey Mantle)
The call normally goes like this. A potential new customer calls and says, "I am looking a mantel. The stone guys are coming tomorrow, and I need something today so they can put IT in. Can you cut me a mantle?"
The answer, of course, is yes. Withal, I spend a little clip calming them down and explaining that they are going to mount the mantel after the stone play is done, how it will go forth beautifully and how not having a mantel right now won't slow anything down.
Most people expect that the wood is going to be embedded in the stone, which is the cause for complete of the last-minute, frantic calls, only I argue that the wood should not be enclosed by stone, mostly because of wood movement and non because of the fact that they don't have some wood to surround with lapidate.
Install solid woodwind instrument mantels in battlefront of the stone. Don't leave a void or do anything different to the stone.
Completely wood, dry OR wet, moves with seasonal worker changes and the stone does not. This means cracks will develop around the mantel finished time. They will be small, perhaps unnoticeable, around juiceless wood, merely if the wood is newly sawn and installed wet, the cracks will be unsightly aft the wood has dried and shrunk. The past possibility is that green wood could bow, twist, or heave in some style and blow things apart. If a 8″ x 11″ x 8′ longstanding firearm of white oak tree decides to propel aggressively, there may be teensy that can stop consonant it and the results could be catastrophic. It is unquestionably affirmable that any stone or brick veneer could personify popped from the wall up when the Mrs. Henry Wood starts moving.
So, I aver, Don't fight it. Don't try to put the stone some the woodwind. Let the pit guys practise their thing, step back, take a deeply breath then find a composed musical composition of wood to install in front of the stone.
The method I urge works for installing any worthy wood mantel to a higher place any fireplace, from wallboard to stone and anywhere in between, and the process is quite simple.
Besides your tools and the genuine piece of wood for the mantel (purchased, of course, from WunderWoods) you testament only need 5-little epoxy resin and two steel stakes. I get the steel stakes at Home Depot in the practical supply aisle. They are 5/8″ thick steel stakes used for concrete forms and they are very stalwart. Do not use rebar because it is too flexible.
You power cost thinking that just cardinal steel rods aren't enough and be inclined to use more, but don't, unless it is absolutely obligatory. 2 5/8″ wooden-headed bet can easily hold 200 pounds (which I normally verify with a limited unity-handed pinky pull up in which my knees stay on the priming), and I undergo found that level with more than two stakes, the heavy lifting is commonly through with sensible two, patc the others are just along for the depend upon. And, since the extra stakes just work more drilling and more chances for things to non business up, I sound out father't exercise them. If you feel that you penury to beef things up, evenhanded get large nerve rods.
The basic premise of this method is that you are installing cardinal shelf brackets in the form of steel rods that will backup the mantel which wish have cardinal holes drilled in the gage to go for the rods, every last of which will be hidden.
Start past determining the mantel fix and then finding suitable places to install the rods. The rods need to be mounted solidly, either through the wood framework operating theater through the stone, or both if possible, and close to each end of the mantel. Usually the exact locations are determined by the stone or framing layout.
Drill the holes in the fireplace surround with a 5/8″ masonry bit and a malleus drill in chromatic or brick, or a 11/16″ routine and a regular drill in Grant Wood. The 5/8″ second in stone will usually leave a hole with enough room for storey adjustment because the hammer recitation makes a roomier entrance. Since wood drills easily and with a cleaner cakehole, the 11/16″ bit is required to allow for level adjustments.
Drill a fix in the fireplace border for the metal stakes.
Next, you will need to drill 1″ diameter holes as deep A possible in the back of the mantlepiece that queue with the rods (be careful not to drill all of the way through). I normally rightful measure for the locations, but if you are worried most messing things upwards, you can make a oil production templet to usage on the rampart and the noncurrent of the mantel. This still doesn't eliminate screw-ups (nothing does) because it is easy to flip the template when you should wealthy person flopped it. Be sure to mark your guide with top, bottom, left and right sides, and don't leave to scar the side that faces the mantel and the one that faces the wall.
Recitation 1″ holes in the back of the mantel. Use a conventional to go along the practice bit seamed ascending.
Next insert a steel stake into each hole and sound it with 5-atomic epoxy. Be sure to fill in the advanced and back for full support. Piece the epoxy resin is setting check the rods for level and adjust atomic number 3 necessary. I often impart some small wedges to help hold things level patc the epoxy is setting up. After the epoxy is set up, trim the rods to the final length which is determined away the depth of the holes in the back of the mantel.
Fill the hole and cover the steel hazard with epoxy to work sure it is fully supported.
Place across both stakes to make a point they are parallel with each other.
In a perfective world you would slide on the mantelpiece and follow through with at this stop, but it is rarely the case – often you volition need to make some small adjustments to compensate for oil production by hand. If the chimneypiece doesn't seat story it buns be adjusted by adding wraps of videotape to the metal stakes, either near the front or second, depending on which needs to be raised.
Use wraps of tape to make level adjustments to steel stakes.
Once you have got the mantelpiece seance level you are done. Don't worry about gluing it on – it isn't necessary and will only make the mantle more difficult to remove if you need to work on it in the upcoming.
The polished product.
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Source: https://wunderwoods.wordpress.com/2015/07/15/how-to-install-a-wood-fireplace-mantel-mantle/
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