How to Make a Mantel Over a Wood Stove

A mantel over a wood stove evokes a time past when nature was a little closer to fashion and decor. A do-it-yourself mantel is well within the capability of most homeowners with a few basic tools. You can build it singlehandedly in a few hours, but as with many projects around the home, having a helping hand will make it go faster and easier. The project calls for wrought-iron brackets and rough cut timber, but you can substitute almost any type of bracket and mantel material to fit your decor.

Electronic stud finder
2 wrought iron L-shaped brackets with 5-inch legs
Rough cut wood plank 50 inches long, 6 inches deep and 2 inches thick
Screws to match brackets, at least 1 1/2 inches long
String bubble level
Drill with bits

Instructions

- 1
  Listen for a beep from the stud finder to indicate a stud in the wall behind the stove. Studs are normally placed every 24 inches in interior walls and 12 inches apart in exterior walls. Find two studs approximately 48 inches apart with the stove in the center of the studs. These spots are where the brackets will hang.
- 2
  Hold the 50-inch plank at various heights to determine which you like the best. When you have the desired height then make a short, horizontal pencil mark on the wall even with the lower part of the plank. Remove the plank and set it aside.
- 3
  Draw a horizontal line from the pencil mark to the left-most stud. Set an L-shaped bracket so the top of the piece is even with the line. When the plank sits on the bracket it will be at the height that you want.
- 4
  Hold the bracket steady and centered on the stud while putting the uppermost screw in the wall leg. Do not tighten it completely. Set the bubble level on top of the bracket against the wall to ensure the bracket is horizontally level. Drive the bottom screw into the stud through the bracket. Tighten both screws down but do not over-tighten as this will crush the drywall underneath.
- 5
  Tie a string to the top leg of the bracket and slide the bubble level on the string. Loosely tie the string to the other bracket leg and place the bracket against the wall on the right side stud. Move the bracket to its approximate desired location. Tighten the string until it's taut, and check the bubble level hanging equally between the brackets. Adjust the right bracket up or down until the bubble level shows that it's perfectly aligned horizontally with the left bracket. Mark the bracket's spot, then remove the string and level.
- 6
  Place the bracket against the marked spot and screw it in as you did the left bracket.
- 7
  Place the plank on top of the brackets and center it. Reach underneath the board and make pencil marks on the board through the bracket's horizontal screw holes. Remove the board and drill starter holes at the pencil marks to help with placing the screws into the plank.
- 8
  Set the plank back up on the brackets and screw the brackets to it.

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