How to Install a Wood Mantel on Stone

Remove the old mantel and framing holding it in place.

Sand any rough spots on the new mantel, and patch any nicks or holes with wood putty.

Prime or stain the pieces of the mantel and allow them to dry.

Assemble the mantel upside-down, following the manufacturer's instructions. You do this upside-down as the shelf across the top is the widest piece and provides a stable base.

Turn the mantel right side up and move it into position around the fireplace with the help of an assistant. Position it so the hole in the fireplace is centered inside the mantel frame.

Check the mantel for level both side-to-side and front-to-back, and place shims underneath the legs to get it level if necessary. Trace the outline of the mantel onto the wall with a pencil.

Lay the mantel on the floor face-down and measure the length of the shelf on the inside edge. Cut a 2-by-4 inch cleat to fit this measurement, and place it on the inside of the shelf, but don't attach it.

Measure the distance from the edge of the shelf cleat to the end of the mantel's legs, and cut two 2-by-4 inch boards to be the leg cleats. Check their length by dry-fitting them onto the back of the mantel's legs. If the mantel's legs are narrower than the boards, cut the boards to fit inside the legs; if they are thicker than the boards, nail another board to them to get the proper thickness.

Place the cleat for the shelf against the wall. (Use an assistant for this.) Position the cleat so the top edge of the cleat lines up against the mark on the wall indicating the bottom edge of the mantel shelf. Drill four evenly spaced holes through the cleat into the stone with a 1/2-inch carbide-tipped masonry bit in a hammer drill. When you drill the holes, drill into the stone and not the mortar.

Attach the cleat to the stone with 2 1/2-inch concrete screws.

Attach the cleats for the legs to the wall using the same method you did for the shelf cleat.

Position the mantel over the cleats with your assistant's help, using the outline on the wall as a guide. Drive 2-inch finishing screws through the top of the shelf into the shelf cleat. Use one screw every 16 inches. Repeat this for the leg cleats, but drive the screws in through the side of the legs and not the front. Drive all the screws until the heads are just beneath the surface so you can conceal them.

Install molding around the inner edge of the mantel to hide the gap between the mantel and the stone.

Caulk gaps between the mantel and the wall. Cover the screw holes with plugs if the mantel was stained. If the mantel is being painted, fill them with wood putty and sand them down.

Apply the top coat of paint or finish.