General Considerations for Installing a Fireplace Mantel

Fireplaces are really quite functional house spots that offer warmth and comfort during the cold season. With the advent of modern technology and house heaters however, fireplaces have gone on from mere functionality to specimens of taste and class. Now, more than ever, fireplaces are things of beauty that lend elegance, character and that old cozy feeling into a modern home. Crucial to the visual effect of a fireplace is the fireplace mantel. More than the actual dark gap in the wall, the fireplace mantel is undeniably the center of attention. What should a fireplace owner know before ordering a fireplace mantel?

Mantel Material

It can be potentially confusing for a future fireplace mantel owner to go through all the available options for a fireplace mantel. The first thing to do though is to do some research on fireplace mantel material. Your fireplace mantel can basically be made of stone or wood. It is not however as simple as having just two options. If you want to have a stone mantel, you can choose from such materials as limestone, marble, granite, cast stone and many others. Your fireplace mantel can also be made of faux stone like faux marble. A Stone fireplace mantel doesn’t come cheap and some may prefer imitation stone.

Wood is generally cheaper than stone, but like all your stone options there are also many options for a wooden fireplace mantel. You can have cherry, oak, pine, maple, poplar, walnut and a variety of other wood types. You may also go for a presswod fireplace mantel that is considered a cheaper option. With wood in general you also have to consider the effect of finishes on your wood of choice.

Style and Décor

Along with thinking about your fireplace mantel material, you should also think about the style and décor of your fireplace mantel. Even if you are not an expert interior designer, common sense would tell you that your fireplace mantel should at least match or should be significantly related to your home style and décor. It would for example be preposterous to have an elegant marble fireplace mantel in a log cabin or a mammoth mantel in a small house. If you want to have a wooden mantel, you should also think of how well the wood material and finish goes along with the other pieces of furniture in the room.

Other styling and décor concerns include the style of the fireplace mantel itself. You may just want to have a top shelf alone or a mantel that is incorporated with the surround. Then, there is also the concern about other adornments. Is the room big enough for you to put a huge painting or bookshelves on top?

Safety

Of course, as with everything else, your fireplace mantel should comply with safety specifications. Check such things as building codes and combustible material rules. You may have to especially look into safety regulations if you have a wooden mantel and surround or if you are going to restore an antique mantel.