You can attach a mantel to your fireplace with French cleats.
If you have a dull fireplace, installing a mantel may help bring beauty and style to your room. By using a French cleat, you can quickly install one without making any holes or marks on the front of it. You can use this method for a full-surround or one that is just along the top of the fireplace. The cleat also allows quick removal of the mantel if you want to change it or need to do fireplace repairs. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Measure to the center of your mantel. Mark 3 inches down from the top of the mantel. Mark 4 inches to the left and 4 inches to the right of your center point. Place a piece of tape lengthwise across the mantel; transfer the marks you made to the tape.
2. Cut a 12-inch piece of pine board. Set your table saw blade to 45 degrees. Rip the board in half lengthwise using your table saw. These pieces will be the cleats.
3. Determine where you want the mantel to sit on the fireplace. Affix the piece of tape you marked onto the wall 4 inches below where you want it to sit.
4. Drill holes into the fireplace that correspond to each of the marks on the tape. Insert the concrete anchors into the holes.
5. Predrill holes into the two ripped pieces of wood 1 inch down from the top of the cleats and at 4 inches, 6 inches and 8 inches.
6. Place one of the cleats chisel point down, facing out, onto the back of the mantel. Line up the predrilled holes in the cleat with the marks on the mantel, and attach the cleat with wood screws.
7. Place the second cleat chisel side up facing in, onto the fireplace. Line up the predrilled holes with the anchors you placed in the wall. Attach the cleat to the wall with the screws provided in the anchor kit.
8. Lift the mantel so that the cleat on the back sits in the slope of the cleat on the wall. The pieces will now be interlocked.
Tags: cleat wall, cleat with, down from, facing onto, holes into, inches inches, Line predrilled