Fireplace Mantels

By Tim Carter
©1993-2008 Tim Carter

Summary: Fireplace mantels have been around for thousands of years. Wooden fireplace mantels are perhaps the most popular, but try to look at antique fireplace mantels if you can. A stone fireplace mantel will work if it matches the room's decor and feeling. Newer cast-stone fireplace mantels are very distinctive.

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Comments

Fred
18 May 2008, 19:35

I just had a direct vent propane fireplace installed in our family room and I need to build the wall surrond to hold the ledgestone rocks, a mantle and a 47 inch LCD TV. The tv is 4 inches thick and I would like to build the wall above the fireplace recessed 4 inches to hide the tv. How do you build recessed framing? Also I am planning on hanging a natural, rough cut cherry mantle, from a tree out back, and it will be heavy. Any suggestions. Thanks.

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