Trimming Out a Corner Fireplace

Preparation and Leg Pieces

• 1

  Sketch out your design. From the firebox, most ordinances require at least 6 inches of noncombustible material before you can begin to use wood. Check your local fire regulations before building, to be sure you are complying with local fire codes.

• 2

  Have the outer shell's masonry installed. Having someone else install the masonry ensures you will be complying with local building codes and is simpler than installing bricks or stone yourself. Instead, you can focus on the main trimming work -- the leg pieces, frieze board and mantel piece.

• 3

  Cut the wood for the leg pieces -- the ones that go on either side of your mantel piece. Cut a piece for each front piece in the width you choose, and make the length from the top of the mantel to the floor.

• 4

  Cut another piece of wood for the leg piece. This piece will be placed perpendicular to the first leg piece and will run to the wall. Make the length and width the same as the first piece.

• 5

  Cut the final piece for the leg piece -- the one that will be flush against the wall. Make this the same measurements as the previous two pieces. Repeat this for the other leg.

Frieze Board

• 6

  Cut a piece of wood for the frieze board -- the piece of wood that goes over the firebox and under the mantel piece. The measurements for this board are the length between the two leg pieces, and the width from the top of the masonry to the mantel board.

• 7

  Use the level to mark horizontal lines between the leg pieces. Cut narrow pieces of wood the length of the frieze board. Nail them in place, along the lines you marked, into the leg pieces -- where they meet the wall.

• 8

  Cut pieces of wood that are 2 to 3 inches thick. Make them the same length as the distance between the horizontal boards and the front of the leg pieces. Nail them into the horizontal boards, to create something for the frieze board to be attached to.

• 9

  Nail the freeze board into the spacing pieces you installed in the previous step.

Mantel Piece

• 10

  Cut the mantel board piece. Measure from the corner of the wall to the edge of the leg piece, to determine the two sides of your triangular board piece. You can add length to this measurement, if you want the mantel piece to extend into the room past the leg pieces. Cut the board into a triangle. Knowing the measurement of two sides gives you the length of the third side.

• 11

  Place the board on top of the leg pieces and frieze board. Nail it securely to the walls, as well as to the leg pieces and frieze piece.

• 12

  Paint or stain the fireplace surround, if desired.