How to Build a Recessed Mantle

Use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall above your fireplace. Mark the position of the studs on the wall in pencil. Select two studs on either side of the fireplace to use as the ends of your recessed mantle. Choose two studs that are spaced between 10 and 16 inches away from the sides of your fireplace.

Use a measuring tape to measure the width of your fireplace. Find the center of the fireplace and make a mark on the wall in pencil above it, about 60 inches off the floor. This is the height at which you will install your recessed mantle.

Draw a horizontal line connecting the marks you made on the wall to indicate the position of the two studs you chose in Step 1. Use a meter stick and a level to keep your line straight and incorporate the center mark you made in Step 2 into this new line. This line will indicate the position of your mantle.

Use a measuring tape to determine the ideal height for your recessed mantle. Anchor the end of the measuring tape on the horizontal line you just drew and measure up the wall to the desired height. Make several pencil marks on the wall above the line you drew in Step 3 to indicate the position of the top of your recessed mantle.

Connect the pencil marks you just made with a horizontal line. Use the meter stick and level to keep your line straight; it should be parallel and equal in length to the line drawn in Step 3. Draw a vertical line between the ends of the two parallel horizontal lines to create a rectangular shape.

Align the tip of a drywall saw with one of the horizontal lines near its center. Gently tap the handle of the saw to drive the blade through the drywall. Move the saw in and out of the drywall in a sawing motion, cutting through the drywall along the length of the pencil line.

Repeat this process to cut along all four lines drawn on the wall. If there are additional studs in the wall between the two you chose for the ends of your mantle you may need to cut individual panels from the drywall between each pair of studs. When finished, remove the drywall cutouts and set them aside.

Cut through any studs inside the wall space between the two you chose for the ends of your recessed mantle. Use a reciprocating saw to cut through all but a half inch of each stud near the top and bottom of the wall space. Use a handsaw to complete the cut and carefully pull the cut studs away from the wall.

Measure the width between the two end studs using the measuring tape. Cut two pieces of 2-by-4-inch hardwood to this length. Insert the pieces of hardwood horizontally into the wall space along the top and bottom. Drive 2-inch wood screws through the boards into the cut-off studs and the end studs on either end to secure them in place.

Cut a piece of 1-inch hardwood to the same length as the pieces of 2-by-4-inch hardwood you just installed. The width of the piece of 1-inch hardwood should be equal to the desired depth of your mantle shelf. Take into account the depth of the wall space when determining the width for your mantle shelf.

Insert the mantle shelf horizontally into the wall space between the end studs. The shelf should lay flat on top of the 2-by-4-inch hardwood board you installed earlier and the back edge should be flush with the back of the wall space.

Drive 2-inch wood screws down through the shelf into the 2-by-4-inch hardwood below. Drive additional screws at an angle into the end studs along the sides of the mantle shelf.

Measure the depth of the wall space between the back wall and the front edge of the drywall along the top of the wall space. Cut a sheet of 1/4-inch plywood to the length of the wall space and the depth you just determined.

Install this panel flat against the top of the wall space, using a nail gun to drive nails through the panel into the 2-by-4-inch hardwood board installed between the end studs and into the end studs themselves. This panel will give your recessed mantle a finished look and cover any gaps left by the 2-by-4-inch board.

Paint or stain your mantle shelf as well as the end studs and the top panel of your recessed mantle. Allow the paint or stain to dry completely before using your new mantle.