Fireplace Mantel Video

By
©1993-2012 Tim Carter

VIDEO SUMMARY

The challenge is to mount a fireplace mantel to the wall without putting screws or nails through the fireplace mantel wood. The solution is a French cleat. French cleats will allow you to remove the mantel, if needed. The French cleat is made using a piece of wood, cut so each section interlocks with the other. One section is mounted to the wall and the other on the back of the mantel.

To make the French cleat, take one piece of lumber and using a table saw rip the board lengthwise. Before cutting, set the table saw blade at 45 degrees. These two pieces will interlock when mounted.

Attach the piece to the wall so that the angle slopes back towards the wall. The chisel point will face up and out. The piece on the mantel and the chisel point facing down and out. When one section is placed on top of the other, they can not pull forward. The mantel will be mounted to the wall with no mounting screws or nails being seen.

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COMMENTS

Bob
05 Oct 2008, 15:30
How do you get the mantel flush to the wall so there is no gap between the top and the wall?
Alvin Hickey
05 Dec 2011, 09:03
I am building and handing a fireplace mantel shelf to a rock face. I will be using leg and leg screws. My plan is to drill through the mortar instead of the stones just in case one would want to move the mantel shelf. This will allow you to hide the holes by martoring over them. I will mount the shelf directly to the rock face without using a backer board. The shelf back board is 2x6. What size leg screws would I need? My mantel shelf true size will be 5.5" (H), 9.5" (D) and 68" (W). The back board is the only board that is 2x6 all other board will be 1x6 and 1x10. I am also try to determine how deep into the martor to drill the leg holes and if drilling through the martor will work for a shelf that should be between 25 - 35 lb. Thanks...

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