Mantlepiece

Bronnie

 I’d like a wooden ledge/mantlepiece on the wall above my fireplace. Does anyone have any examples or ideas to do this on a budget, please? How are they usually fixed to the wall? 

I will need to pay someone to fix it. (I also understand I need to check the fire manual for the required distance to position it ). Thanks for any advice

Emmia

There's lots of examples on places like Etsy if you search for "mantle shelf" some are floating style, so essentially you attach a mounting bracket to the wall and then slide the shelf over it.

What style are you after?

Floating example

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1208630007/10x15cm-oak-mantel-beam-rustic-farmhouse

More traditional with corbels
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/965993397/handmade-solid-pine-mantel-shelf-with

What's your budget for this?

Albermarle

I would delete the picture and take another one without the family photo in it. 

Bronnie

Emmia said:

There's lots of examples on places like Etsy if you search for "mantle shelf" some are floating style, so essentially you attach a mounting bracket to the wall and then slide the shelf over it.

What style are you after?

Floating example

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1208630007/10x15cm-oak-mantel-beam-rustic-farmhouse

More traditional with corbels
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/965993397/handmade-solid-pine-mantel-shelf-with

What's your budget for this?

Thank you. They’re lovely, but more than I’d wish to spend. I’m hoping to find a budget version, doesn’t have to be high quality timber just something functional and looks ok! 

Emmia

Bronnie said:

Emmia said:

There's lots of examples on places like Etsy if you search for "mantle shelf" some are floating style, so essentially you attach a mounting bracket to the wall and then slide the shelf over it.

What style are you after?

Floating example

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1208630007/10x15cm-oak-mantel-beam-rustic-farmhouse

More traditional with corbels
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/965993397/handmade-solid-pine-mantel-shelf-with

What's your budget for this?

Thank you. They’re lovely, but more than I’d wish to spend. I’m hoping to find a budget version, doesn’t have to be high quality timber just something functional and looks ok! 

What is your budget for this mantle? How much are you expecting a "budget version" to cost? 

You could buy a length of 2x4 or and a couple of brackets which will do what you want, but will probably look a bit rubbish as a centrepiece.

Or if you're willing to think outside the box a little IKEA has a picture ledge for £12 which depending on the length you need might work - you could put pictures on it to create more of a feature (it comes in various finishes and lengths)

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/mosslanda-picture-ledge-oak-effect-70586941/ (I don't know if it would be suitable over a fire)

I have white versions of these metal IKEA shelves staggered up a wall at home with artwork on. They're  £6 each. 

https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/malmbaeck-display-shelf-dark-grey-40446339/

Alternatively if there are woods near you, a suitable fallen tree branch could be an option, but that wouldn't work if you wanted to put things like photos on it.

stuart45

You could use an old scaffold board.

Vitor

stuart45 said:

You could use an old scaffold board.

Are you near the sea and could collect driftwood?  

twopenny

I remember old oak thick planks being put as a floating mantle back in the 80s or 90s.
Think in those days it was programmes like Changing Rooms if you could make a relevant search for that.
It wasn't a big deal fixing them but sorry, I can't for the life of me remember.

Love the fire 🙂

ButterCheese

This is a bit of a task if you want it to look good and are on a budget.

Cheap kits look cheap because they are often veneered MDF.  If you're happy with that then do that.

 If you buy wood "new" from a timber merchant, it will need weighing down and thoroughly drying to prevent warping.  It might still warp, in which case you'd need to learn how to get it totally flat by levelling it and planing/routering the top.  A lot of work if you don't have the tools already.

So you'll need to look at second hand wood that has been dry and is already seasoned.  Depending on the size and weight, yes you can still get floating shelf kits but they will be metal dowels the slot into a hole at the back of your shelf, which you have to drill yourself.  If you don't get this perfectly straight (i.e. by using a piller drill), your shelf will slope forward or backward.

Not trying to put you off - but just be realistic about what the finished articale will look like if you do not have a budget for a carpenter.  I DIYd mine and matching shelves, all floating. and even with woodworking experience and most of the tools, it was very tricky

twopenny

This is what Buttercheese is explaining 

Mine was a radiator shelf . It dropped which is why I removed it.
Something to explore online as it will be a bigger, heftier job with a chunk of wood. 

They do look good if done right but I'd say you need a machine to get them dead right. But then the holes in the wall must be straight.

twopenny

On the other hand this guy makes it look simple???
This is what I remembered from makeover shows.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7nn1LyT0BeI

What he doesn't say is how to ensure it's level or the drilling is straight before it's stuck for good