How to Install Wood Mantel on Brick Fireplace
I’m always looking for DIY projects that are low cost with high impact. Earlier this year, I tackled my brick fireplace and in addition to painting, I decided to add a wood beam. Not only did this give us a place to hang our Christmas stockings, it added a lot of warmth and design to this space. This room has lovely windows but otherwise needed some design details. This mantel did the trick. While drilling into brick is a little intimidating, it’s a relatively easy project. Here, I’m sharing all my tips and sources on how to install wood mantel on brick fireplace.
This fireplace was a basic brick hearth without any mantel. I kind of loved the minimal look but also wanted a mantel for some functionality. Often, pre-existing floating mantels are hung and somewhat easy to lift and remove. Here, it was a clean slate. So, after painting, I decided to hang a white oak wood beam with simple L brackets. Adding natural wood is one of the design shifts we’re seeing in the decor world and I’m embracing it!
The beam itself is hollow core and comes with floating bolts but I’ve never had the best of luck with that type of fastener. I opted for a more sturdy bracket design and used Cascade Iron Co. brackets – my brother’s business who helped me with this install.
Fireplace Mantel Supplies
- White Oak Wood Beam Mantel
- Heavy Duty Brackets – I used Black but also really like the Clear Coat
- Painter’s Tape to mark placements
- Level
- Power Drill
- Masonry Bolts for brick (use correct hardware for type of installation)
Measure Wood Mantel Placement
The first step I took was measuring and marking the mantel placement. A common height for a mantel is 54” – 60” from the floor. I used painter’s tape to get a visual and map things out. Once you determine the wood beam placement, mark the holes for the bracket installation. I used a 72″ mantel that was exact width of my existing fireplace, this gave it a clean modern look.
Check for Level Mantel
For this fireplace mantel we used a laser level to make sure everything is even but a regular long level works well too. Short levels don’t always give accurate readings for something long like this. This is the time to double check and make sure everything is even, it’s hard to redo brick installation!
Fun fact, some fireplaces can be inherently out of level so try not rely on the surround itself. For example, it’s very slight but the bricks in this fireplace are slightly uneven so if we had used the mortar lines as a guide, we would’ve ended up with an out of level mantel.
Drill Holes in Brick Fireplace
Next, you’ll drill the holes into the brick to install the brackets. This is kind of the gut wrenching part! It’s important to use the right drill bit for this. We used a Carbide-tipped drill bit which is specific for brick and concrete an makes it pretty easy to drill. If you don’t have brick on your fireplace, you’ll just use regular suggestions for drywall or wall stud hardware.
Install Mantel Brackets
Then, we installed the heavy duty metal brackets to hold the wood beam. We used specialty fasteners, called masonry bolts, which are super strong and intended for brick.
Choose whatever hardware works for what it’s being installed into. For example, directly into a wall would use bolts for wall studs or anchors for drywall.
Add Wood Beam Mantel
Finally, we placed the wood beam on the brackets and secured them with smaller bolts. To prevent the wood from splitting, we marked and then pre-drilled holes in the wood beam.
I selected a white oak wood beam that have a hollow core. So the sides are made with solid oak but it’s made like a box. This makes it lighter and easier to install. It’s still pretty heavy and requires substantial support. If it was a completely solid beam, it would require much more support.
Fireplace Mantel FAQs
Most mantels are hung 54–60 inches from the floor.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, follow clearance requirements- typically the mantel must be 6–12 inches above the firebox depending on depth.
Common depths are 6-10 inches. Remember that deeper mantels may be heavier and need more support.
A typical mantel is 60–72 inches long, but this varies based on fireplace width and wall size.
Yes the mantel can be the same width as the entire fireplace. A mantel that lines up with the surround edges gives a modern, clean look especially with stone or brick.
Final Thoughts on Fireplace Mantel
Overall, I’m really happy with this DIY project and hope it helps learn how to install wood mantel on brick fireplace. It adds a lot of warmth from the wood and design details with the metal hardware. Not to mention it’s super functional and I’m having a great time styling it. I hope this post is helpful in planning your project. If you’re looking for more fireplace ideas, check out How to Paint a Tile Fireplace or Tips for Whitewashing a Brick Fireplace. Also, consider safety guidelines when tackling a fireplace update.
