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Fireplaces: Guide to Mantels and Surrounds
Concrete
Precast concrete mantels are great for achieving interesting custom looks because they may be finished in varied ways -- from sandblasted to smooth to acid-washed -- and come in a broad spectrum of colors. Cast in one piece or in modules, they are lightweight because they're reinforced with glass fiber.
Antique mantels
If your heart is set on a vintage mantel and you have the good luck to find an appropriate one of wood or stone, it can usually be adjusted to fit. (You'll probably wind up cutting down one that's too large.) Get professional help to determine how best to adapt your antique mantel according to building and fire codes.
Hearths
The hearth material usually matches that of the noncombustible fireplace facing -- rock, stone, tile, brick, or concrete. Cast-in-place concrete is an appealing newer choice. Another option is a seamless stone slab installed as a hearth, applied with thinset mortar over a base of concrete.
Depending on the height of the fireplace on the wall, the hearth may be level with the floor or raised. A raised hearth can be extended out to provide seating or a footrest.
Precast concrete mantels are great for achieving interesting custom looks because they may be finished in varied ways -- from sandblasted to smooth to acid-washed -- and come in a broad spectrum of colors. Cast in one piece or in modules, they are lightweight because they're reinforced with glass fiber.
Antique mantels
If your heart is set on a vintage mantel and you have the good luck to find an appropriate one of wood or stone, it can usually be adjusted to fit. (You'll probably wind up cutting down one that's too large.) Get professional help to determine how best to adapt your antique mantel according to building and fire codes.
Hearths
The hearth material usually matches that of the noncombustible fireplace facing -- rock, stone, tile, brick, or concrete. Cast-in-place concrete is an appealing newer choice. Another option is a seamless stone slab installed as a hearth, applied with thinset mortar over a base of concrete.
Depending on the height of the fireplace on the wall, the hearth may be level with the floor or raised. A raised hearth can be extended out to provide seating or a footrest.
