Wondering if there is a recommended depth to make a solid wood beam shelf for a mantle? Does it look best to match the thickness of the beam, in our case 4″? I would prefer to have a depth of 5″ but wondering if it would look out of balance to do that with the height being only 4″.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Find online articles on A Fine Finish for Wood Exteriors; Furnace to Heat Pump Retrofit; Windows Before Housewrap?; More Building Science Mistakes to Avoid; EV Chargers and much more.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
You could try asking your question at "Breaktime" and you'll probably get more replies--although sometimes they can be kind of harsh.
Anyway, I don't think there are any "rules" about the mantle piece. I think it would look better if it were wider than it is tall. You could also sort of "corbel" it or have brackets to support a wider mantle. For corbeling, you could put a 4x4 under a 2x8 so it steps out. That would look more supported and may therefore be more esthetically pleasing.
Edit: You could also ask at Knots, woodworkers there may be familiar with proper proportions for mantle pieces.
Edited 5/25/2006 11:57 am ET by Danno
What is it over a gas fireplace or a wood burning? For Gas units or zero clearance you need for code reasons a ratio of 1:1. So for a gas unit the mantel starts 4 inches above the box the mantel can only stick out 4 inches. This is so the heat can escape over the mantel and not start a fire. I can't remember the ratio for wood burners. Most mantels not all tend to be in the 8-10" range and start about 12 inches above the box. Post over at Breaktime they will be happy to help and are not harsh.
Jeff