What Kind of Wood Should Be Used to Make a Mantel?

Log

• For a unique rustic look, make a mantel out of a log. This looks best when combined with a fieldstone fireplace and chimney. Splitting the log down the middle provides a flat face that you can use for placing decorative items on the mantel. Cut the log in the summer if you plan to peel the bark off of it, as it's easier to peel when the sap is moving. If you want a log mantel with the bark still on it, cut it in the winter, and the bark will remain on.

Beam

• A hand-hewn beam from an old barn makes a beautiful mantel and is easier to mount on a wall or fireplace than a log. You can find used beams at architectural salvage companies and used building materials stores or you may be able to salvage one directly from a derelict barn in your area (be sure to ask the owner). Many older barns have enormous beams in them that were cut from old-growth trees. These beams have stable grain and will sit above your fireplace for decades without warping or splitting.

Finished Lumber

• For a more formal look, you can create a mantel from fine hardwood, plane it and finish it with several coats of clear polyurethane. Woods with pronounced grain and beautiful color such as oak, cherry or walnut are ideal for creating beautiful mantels to accent your fireplace. A fine hardwood mantel can be an accent for a stone fireplace or be incorporated into an all-wood fireplace surrounds. Design the entire area so that all its components exhibit the same level of finish and formality to avoid creating a clash of styles.

Found Wood

• Liven up your fireplace area with the incorporation of unusual found wood pieces used as a mantel. If you live near the ocean, you can salvage driftwood and fashion it into a one-of-a-kind mantel for your home. Other interesting found pieces could include vintage signs from an old general store or parts of old furniture such as bed rails or stair stringers. Go to flea markets, auctions and yard sales and keep an eye out for unique and character-filled pieces of antique wood that have the right size and shape to be made into a mantel.