Fireplace Mantels Dress Up Your Fireplace
FireWoman | Mar 13, 2009 | Comments 0
There are many ways to dress up your fireplace, you can paint the brick, or have your fireplace surround covered in stone or marble. But one of the easiest and most noticable is by replacing an old mantel or getting a new fireplace surround. I love the look of the classic white fireplace surround, Pearl Mantels makes a nice one.
Choices range from the classic wood to the super ornate. If you want to get really fancy I know of a hand-carved, natural limestone, King Louis Fireplace Surround. Oh, wait, Donald Trump is already using that one. If this one is too much for you there are also many other stone fireplace surround options. Stone tends to be more expensive, but it is also more durable and low maintenance. Plus the beauty of the stone can’t be denied.
If you opt for the wood surround you have a choice of tons of styles and finishes. When it comes to wood you can find, unfinished, light wood, medium wood, dark wood, black, white, I think you get the picture.
Once you decide on which surround to use there is some prep work involved before installation. You need accurate measurements to determine the size of fireplace mantel or surround needed. You will need these three key measurements.
- Fireplace Opening Height – Determine the height of the fireplace opening.
- Fireplace Mantel Width – Carefully measure the width of this same space.
- Fireplace Depth – This is the distance of the facing material, which is a non-combustible material like brick or tile that juts out from the point of installation.
Once you have these numbers you can usually determine the right size mantel or fireplace surround, by following the manufacturers guidelines, and doing some basic math calculations.
If replacing the entire surround is too much of a job you can always revamp the look of your fireplace just by adding a new mantel shelf. The mantel shelf is a less expensive and easier option. But it still needs to be installed properly. I know of a couple who purchased a shelf and just set it on top of the old one with out fastening it down or installing it properly. Their granddaughter reached up onto the shelf to get something and the whole thing fell down.
No matter what style and color you decide to choose. There is no denying that a beautiful fireplace is the focal point of the room. With so many available fireplace accessories it should be easy to make your fireplace your own.
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