Perhaps your fireplace already has a mantel. However, mantles come in dozens and dozens of shapes, styles, and colors. The mantel that you have now may not suit your taste.

In order to be pleased with the look and feel of your fireplace, you will have to be pleased with the mantel. Think about it this way. A whole in the wall looks the same as any other hole in the wall. What makes one fireplace look better than the other is the mantel.

There are several areas of control you have when considering installing a fireplace mantel or changing the one you have. First, fireplace mantles come in varying sizes. This is independent of the size of the whole in the wall itself. You can go for a modest small mantel or a more aggressive large mantel. Basically the inner portions of the mantel will be dictated either size of the hole in the wall. However, the mantel can be built out as far as you want.

A key part of successfully installing a fireplace mantel is being able to make correct measurements and correct cut of wood. If you doubt your skill at doing this than you might want to hire a professional to design and install your fireplace mantel.

The cheapest mantles are those that you build yourself. Medium cost of mantles are those that come in kits. These are nice option. You purchase the mantel in pieces and you simply put it together and install it. The most expensive mantels, of course, are those that you have built custom for you. You will have to hire a local contractor to do this for you. They are going to charge a premium for materials and labor.

Our recommendation is that you purchased a buyer placed mantel kit. First of all, they are relatively inexpensive. Second, you know what it is going to look like. Finally, you’ll save a lot of money on labor costs by not having to hire someone to install it for you.

You do not have to be a experienced handyman to be able to install your own fireplace mantel shelves. Anyone can do it. However, you should only install your own fireplace mantel if projects like this are pleasing to you. Otherwise, you should have someone else install it for you. Here is a helpful installation tip for you. If you need to paint or stain your mantel, be sure you do that outside in the open air before installing the mantel in your home.

If you are installing it yourself, mounting board strips will make this easier. You can simply screw the mantel straight in. If you do not use mounting board strips, then you should drive the screws in at an angle. Be sure to use measuring tape and a level to make sure that the mantel is properly leveled and centered.

Conventional wisdom seems to say that you would put the legs and first on either side of the fireplace and then the mantel on top of that. However, mantel installation experts suggest putting the top shelf and first and then the legs underneath it. Installed scribe molding on the interior portion of the mantel. This makes the opening appear as if it’s facing you. If it doesn’t fit correctly, you can trim it. Finishing nails can be used to fasten them in.

Finally, use a good wood putty to fill in all of the screw holes. These are never fun to look at once the putty dries you can cover it with the same stain or paint that you used previously.

It’s as simple as that. Installing a fireplace mantel is not that difficult at all. However, in many cases this is a state of mind. Something that is very easy for some can appear very complicated, frustrating, and stressful to another. How do you feel after putting together that discount futon you bought at the local superstore? Could you follow the directions carefully and without a problem? Did it frustrate you when something wasn’t working out correctly? If so, installing your own mantel may not be a good idea.

It is very easy to install your own fireplace mantel shelf. There are two things you will do want to consider, however, before you set out with your project.

First you might want to contact your local fire department or other appropriate authorities to learn about fire codes and regulations. This is important because not only do you not want to violate any laws, but you also don’t want to put yourself in danger. In some cases, you might have to have your installation inspected before and after completion. Doing this can leave you with a feeling of safety and satisfaction knowing that you are not breaking any laws.

Second, you’re going to want to have some clear-cut instructions on how to install your mantel. Without having detailed step-by-step plans, you are setting yourself up for a lot of frustration and agony. Having the proper plans from the beginning will ensure that your mantel is installed properly and that you enjoy the process.

Finally you will go to want to balance cost and safety. Generally if you go the cheap route your mantel will not look as good as it could and you will also run some safety risks. On the other hand, spending more money will result in a more beautiful mantel and a safer one.

Regardless of which direction you take, you will no doubt be pleased with your beautiful fireplace mantel shelves if you take the time and effort to do it right.

Has the fireplace in your living room been out of use for ages? It’s always disappointing to see an unused fireplace not only go unused, but also be completely overlooked for its design capabilities. There are several materials that have been used in the design of fireplace mantel shelves. Among those materials are mahogany, walnut, concrete, metal, gypsum, and even glass.

For those who prefer do-it-yourself options, there are fireplace mantel kits. These options are often a lot cheaper than buying a complete mantel. You’ll find that most complete mental solutions are quite expensive. So if you don’t mind putting one together yourself, then the do-it-yourself option is the way to go.

If you are not into putting together a fireplace mantel on your own then here is what you can expect to pay. The cheapest buyer placed mental solutions are those made of fiber board. These can cost between $250-$300. If you’re looking for a solid wood solution, then plan on spending anywhere from $700-$1500. Some models can cost thousands of dollars.

Finally, if the do-it-yourself options are not enough to satisfy your handyman tendencies, then you could even acquire plans to cut, design and build a fireplace mantel. A simple Google search should uncover fireplace mantel blueprints to get you started.