How Do I Make a Fireplace Mantle?

Use a circular saw and a table saw to cut three pine boards to the size you need to surround the trim around your fireplace. Also cut molding to the same dimensions. Cut a board to use for the mantel the width of the entire surround.

Find and mark the wall studs located behind the drywall around the fireplace with a stud finder and pencil. Glue and nail the horizontal wood surrounds you cut with construction adhesive and a pneumatic nail gun and nails above the tile, brick or stone around the opening of the fireplace. Make sure the board is horizontal using a level. Nail it to the wall where the wall studs are located.

Apply construction adhesive to the inner edges of the pine boards that you'll place vertically on the sides of the fireplace. This will complete the surround. Make sure they are plumb using a level. Affix them to the wall outside the tile, stone or brick, ensuring that they rest squarely on the floor. Attach them with the nail gun and nails where the wall studs are located behind the drywall.

Cut corners of a piece of molding you've previously cut to edge the mantel board, use the miter box and saw to angle the corners so they fit together around the mantel board. Fit them to the edges of the board and affix with the construction adhesive. Secure further by nailing them with the hammer and finishing nails.

Position and affix the mantel board above the surround with the construction adhesive and nails. Put drops of construction adhesive on top of the horizontal and vertical surround boards. Make sure the mantel board is level using the level tool. Secure it to the surround with the nail gun and nails.

Spackle all the nail holes with wood spackle and a putty knife. Sand the spackle with sandpaper when it is dry.

Paint or stain the mantel with an interior paint or stain of your choice.