How to Build a Mantle Over Brick

Examine the pieces of the new mantle for any holes or nicks in the wood. Patch any you find with wood putty, then sand it smooth.

Apply stain or a coat of primer to the mantle. Allow each application to dry before moving on.

Assemble the mantle, following the instructions provided by the manufacturer. When building the mantle, do it upside-down as the shelf that goes across the top of the mantle provides a stable base.

Flip the mantle over into the correct position and place it into position around the fireplace with an assistant's help.

Lay a carpenter's level on top of the mantle's shelf. If it's uneven, place shims underneath the legs to balance it.

Make an outline of the mantle onto the wall by tracing it, then carefully lay the mantle onto the floor.

Cut a 2-by-4 board that fits the inside edge of the mantle's shelf. This will be a cleat that holds the mantle against the fireplace.

Cut two 2-by-4 boards to fit inside the legs of the mantle. These cleats should be long enough to reach from the bottom of the mantle's legs to the bottom edge of the shelf cleat.

Fit the leg cleats inside the mantle's legs. If the legs are wider than the cleats, nail another board to the cleat so it's the proper thickness. If the legs are thinner than the cleats, trim the cleats down to fit inside the legs.

Hold the shelf cleat against the wall so the top edge of the cleat is lined up with the mark you made at the bottom edge of the shelf when you traced the mantle. Have an assistant hold the cleat in position, and drill four pilot holes through the wooden cleat and into the bricks with a 1/2-inch carbide-tipped masonry bit in a hammer drill. Keep the holes spaced evenly along the cleat, and drill into the bricks, not the mortar between the bricks.

Drive 2 1/2-inch concrete screws through the pilot holes and into the brick.

Install the leg cleats onto the wall, using the same process you used for the shelf cleat.

Lift the mantle into position around the fireplace with your assistant's help. Place the mantle over the cleats, and attach the mantle to the cleats with 2-inch finishing screws. Install a screw every 16 inches around the perimeter of the mantle, driving them through the top of the shelf and the sides of the legs. Drill the screwheads slightly beneath the surface of the mantle so they can be concealed.

Nail molding around the inside edge of the mantle to cover the gaps between the bricks and the mantle.

Caulk the joints between the wall and the mantle.

Conceal the screws around the perimeter of the mantle. Use wood putty if the mantle is being painted, and plugs if the mantle is being stained.

Apply the finishing coat of paint or stain to the mantle.