Remodeling : Installation : Replace a Mantel : Home & Garden Television

Figure A (click to enlarge)

Help Around the House host Henry Harrison shows a guest how to carefully remove her old fireplace mantel (figure A) and replace it with a new, more stylish version. On his elbow grease scale of one to four, Harrison gives this job a two.

Tools:

drilling hammer
combination square
chisel
wrench
pencil
clawback hammer
bucket
drill and drill bits
hammer (or a nice powerful nail gun)
prybar
level
putty knife
trowel
5-in-1 painter's tool
gloves and goggles
mantel
mortar
concrete brick
2x2 board
2 lag bolts and sleeves

Figure B (click to enlarge)

Figure C (click to enlarge)

Steps:

1. Put on safety glasses and remove trim using the painter's tool or prybar and a hammer (figure B).

2. This particular mantel was held together with staples, so the next step was to pry apart the pieces using a hammer and prybar (figure C). Continue until mantel is completely disassembled.

Figure D (click to enlarge)

Figure E (click to enlarge)

3. The mantel was also mounted in an unusual fashion, with short 2x4s actually set into the brick chimney. In this case, remove the boards by tapping on them with the hammer to loosen, then pull out of the bricks (figure D).

4. Next seal the holes left by the mounting blocks to make the wall weather-tight again. Find blocks to fit the openings. Chisel out some of the old mortar if the brick is just slightly too large for the opening.

5. Spread some mortar around the edge of an opening, then insert a replacement brick. Mortar around the edges of the brick (figure E). Continue until all holes are plugged.

Figure F (click to enlarge)

Figure G (click to enlarge)

6. Position the 2x2 ledger board with a level and mark two mounting points where the board crosses over the existing mortar joints. Check to make sure the board is level.

7. Drill two holes through the 2x2, then hold it in position again and mark mounting points on masonry joints (figure F). Switch to a masonry bit and drill holes for lag screws (figure G).

Figure H (click to enlarge)

Figure I (click to enlarge)

8. Insert the lag sleeves into the holes (figure H) and position the ledger board. Check once more for level and tighten it to the wall with the lag screws and a wrench (figure I).

Figure J (click to enlarge)

9. Position the new mantle over the ledger board and nail it to the ledger board. A cordless nailer makes quick work of this job (figure J).

Also in this Episode

Help Around the House : Episode ARH-223
•	Staining a Deck
•	Driveway Pothole
•	Replace a Mantel
•	Ladders

Remodeling

Replace a Mantel

Tools

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