House for my Parents

[KENSFM]

As always it looks GREAT Eddie, good job.

Ken

 

[Tororider]

Beautiful. Mickey looks lonely.

 

[dstig1]

Very nice! Is it OK to be placed that close to the insert? I know there are setback requirements for combustible mantels, especially from the top of the insert.

 

[Ranger Rick]

Very nice! Is it OK to be placed that close to the insert? I know there are setback requirements for combustible mantels, especially from the top of the insert.

The mantle looks good. I think I would raise it up some so that there is some stone between the mantle and the firebox.


The building code here in VA says Section 1001.11 of the IRC (2006 edition), "Exception 4: exposed combustible mantels or trim may be placed directly on the masonry fireplace front surrounding the fireplace opening providing such combustible materials are not placed within 6 in. of a fireplace opening. Combustible materials within 12 in. of a fireplace opening shall not project more than 1/8 in. for each 1-in. distance from such opening."

In your case, the mantle would be considered combustible trim and cannot be less than 12 in. from the fireplace opening if projecting more than 1-1/2 in. I would move it up to at least a foot away from the firebox.

You have a nice mantle I would not want it to burn up or char because it was too close to the fire. Rick

 

[EddieWalker]

I've been thinking about the height of the mantel and looked up code on what it is supposed to be. I need ten inches from the top of the box to the bottom of the mantel. I'm about half that, so today I'm going to raise it. I had a vision in my head of what I wanted it to look like, but now I need to change that vision and go for something like Ranger Rick just posted. Oh well.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

The mantel is now quite a bit higher up. The built ins for either side of the fireplace are almost done. I need to do the doors and trim it out, but the basic idea is there.



Eddie

 

[murphy1244]

Are the shelves going to be adjustable?

 

[dstig1]

Since they appear to be dadoed into the sides, I would say "not"... Perhaps some are adjustable and I cannot see that in the photos.

 

[EddieWalker]

The shelves are fixed in place. Mom wants to store books in the one on the right, and we figured out where they need to be to fit them. Adjustable shelves get adjusted once and never move again, so I just eliminated that step.

Eddie

 

[Woody65]

I finished off the mantel with four clear coats of Minwax clear satin Plycrylic. I decided to go with lag bolts and metal brackets to hang the mantel. I had installed a header made from 2x8's and half inch plywood when framing the house, so I would have enough strength for whatever I decided to use for the mantel. I used 4 1/2 inch lags into the mantel and 3 1/2 inch lags into the header. It weighs somewhere around 100 pounds.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=350309"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=350310"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=350312"/>

Eddie

Eddie,

Is it me or maybe the angle of the photo. The mantel looks to be off center. Looks to be a few inches further left of center????? The finish on the mantel looks great. Nice job.