Build A Fireplace Mantel

You don’t need to have a working fireplace to build a fireplace mantel in your home.

Many older homes boast beautiful fireplaces that are as appealing to the eye as they are functional. With modern advances in furnace heating many builders saw no use for the structures in the home. The furnace did the heating in these homes. However, many homeowners want to add this feature to their family rooms and living rooms.

The fireplace itself is simply a hole in the wall. The mantle is a decorative element that is added for eye appeal. This popular framing element often becomes the focal point of the room. Many homeowners build a fireplace mantel for decorative purposes alone.

This may not make sense to an older generation that perceives the unit as a functional piece of architecture. However, the primary focal point of the architecture is not the place where the fire is actually set. That is just an empty space until you add wood and flames. The visual bulk of a fireplace is decorative in nature.

For this reason, many homeowners choose to build a fireplace mantel whether or not they actually have a fireplace.

This trend in many newer homes has become almost mainstay. There are a few innovative additions to the decorative feature that can provide old-fashioned style or sleek, modern sophistication.

Some homeowners simply put candles in the decorative fireplace unit. The glow of the candles is reminiscent of the flames of a traditional fire but they do not require a flue. This attractive approach is often used when the homeowners build a fireplace mantle and when the fireplace is an actual working unit.

On rare occasions, people will build a fireplace mantel that houses a waterfall. Burning candles that glow through the stream of water can be found behind the waterfall. This magnificent indoor water feature was highlighted on Home and Garden Television. The brilliant combination of fire and water is relaxing and charming.

You may want to build a fireplace mantle for your own home. There are a couple of options to consider.

There are pre-made units ready to be installed but if you are handy with tools you can save some money by choosing to build a fireplace mantel from scratch.

Whether you choose to install a pre-made mantel or whether you choose to build a fireplace mantel on your own, you have made the first step to creating a warm, welcoming environment in your home.

Resources

Building a Fence - As with all outside timber structures, gates have to be designed to withstand the elements. It is a relatively common experience to have difficulty trying to open (and shut) some timber gates that are either jammed between the posts, or have sagged and are dragging on the ground. A bit of forethought can alleviate these problems.

Building A Fireplace Mantel - A fireplace is usually just a black hole in the wall until it is framed by decorative elements called a surround and mantel. The mantel makes the fireplace a focal point and sets the style for a room. If you have recently installed a zero-clearance fireplace or want to change the style of an existing masonry fireplace, you have two options: using a mantel kit or building one yourself.

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