Brackets for Fireplace Mantel
An essential part of the overall installation of one’s fireplace may include brackets for the fireplace mantel. They help hold the mantel in place and serve as an aesthetic element. They also come in various materials and styles, so you can choose the one that works best with the rest of your home décor.
Are you looking for a sign to add beauty and depth to your fireplace mantel? You’re lucky because this article has the answers to your questions about brackets for fireplace mantels.
What Are Brackets For Fireplace Mantel?
You’ll need extra support if you plan to put a lot of books, toys, or anything heavy on top of your mantel. The solution is simple — add brackets!
Mantel brackets are the perfect addition to your fireplace mantel, whether you want to add a shelf or give your mantel some extra support. These brackets can be used in all types of mantels to ensure that every installed design is unique and beautiful.
Bracket designs can be rustic or modern, depending on your preferences. There are also options when it comes to the shapes of your bracket. Some brackets have curved edges, while others have straight edges or a combination. Pillars Customs also offers custom brackets with designs in the front lip.
Fireplace mantels are a perfect way to add details and character to your home. However, suppose you’re unsure how to make the most of your fireplace. In that case, you might wonder what kinds of brackets are available for fireplaces. The brackets that hold the mantel are usually made from wood or metal, and they can be either floating or fixed.
Fireplace Mantel Choices
There are a few fireplace mantel options available on the market today. You may want to consider a wooden mantel with surrounds if your house design is leaning towards a more classic and traditional look. On the contrary, you can opt for floating shelves if you want a more modern and sophisticated appearance.
Floating Mantel Bracket
You can install floating fireplace mantels on a wall using screws or a backboard. Brackets for floating shelves are hidden and designed to create an illusion as if it’s not there in the first place. It is perfect in any house or cabin with a minimalist touch.
Additionally, you can use floating shelves if you want to go for a more modern look. They are designed to float above other items on your fireplace mantel. They can also be effortlessly easy to install and move around as needed!
How To Install A Floating Mantel
You can get the tools you need to prepare in your local hardware stores. It includes screws or bolts, backboard, nails, brackets, or corbels to achieve the floating illusion of the mantel bracket. If you’re installing a wood mantel, below are the five easy steps you can follow:
Step 1: Drill holes in the walls
The distance between the holes should follow the length of the fireplace mantel.
Step 2: Install the screws or log bolts
Remember that the bolts should be evenly distributed to ensure that the mantel brackets can handle the weight of the fireplace mantel and whatever you plan to put on top.
Step 3: Drill holes in the back of the mantel
Before drilling any holes in the back of the mantel, measure the distances carefully. This way, it can match up with the bolts already attached to the wall.
Step 4: Level the mantel and install it on the wall
Remember that your mantel should be appropriately leveled so that any items on top will not fall. Some homeowners prefer their mantels attached only using nails, but others like brackets for a more sturdy and strong foundation.
Step 5 (Optional): Install the mantel brackets or corbels
Once the mantel is already settled, you may now add the floating mantel brackets. Brackets for floating shelves are added for additional weight capacity support on the mantel while maintaining a nice, clean, finished fireplace look.
Things To Consider When Using Wood Mantel
Using a wooden mantel is dangerous because it is a combustible material. Fire accidents are the most common type of accidents relating to the wood mantel. To protect the mantel from heat, consider the following some of the USA’s National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)’s orders:
- Remember the laws and regulations regarding fire codes in your area of residence
- Follow the specific distance of the mantel to the fireplace to avoid accidents
- Flammable materials like wood must be at least 6 inches from the firebox’s opening
Advantages Of Having Fireplace Mantel Brackets
Aside from the obvious weight capacity support system, the benefits of having brackets or corbels for fireplace mantels are as follows:
- It helps the mantels stand out by adding a touch of aesthetics
- It helps maintain the decorative household items in place
- It provides sturdy support on floating shelves
- It is customizable — bracket sizes depend on your mantel
- Some dowels used in brackets are solid, which prevents snapping and bending
How To Decorate Fireplace Mantels
After hanging the mantel for your fireplace, it’s time to put whatever you plan on top of it. For a cleaner look, you should incorporate any item you wish to put on top of the mantel to where the fireplace is located. They are typically found in the living room or the kitchen.
The typical items to put on a mantel are as follows:
- Photos
- Ornaments
- Candles
- Plants
On the other hand, the most common items to hang on top of the mantel may include:
- Mirror
- Wall Clock
- Artworks
- Television
Additionally, if you’re decorating your fireplace mantels on holidays, you may include festive lights, stockings, and garlands. On a regular occasion, you may stick with the items we’ve listed above.
Brackets And Corbels
Picture this: you visit a specific website trying to find a perfect fireplace design and have stumbled across these two words — “brackets” and “corbels.” You might get confused between the two as both have the same purpose: to provide support for the fireplace mantel. Despite its similarities, one thing to keep in mind is that corbels are only a type of bracket.
Concentrating one by one on four key variables such as appearance, materials, size, and use can make your decision-making a bit easier. We’ve listed the categories you should consider before buying one. To further differentiate the two, read the following:
Appearance
People usually think of brackets as cheap, like the metal kind you typically see and checkout in most hardware stores. However, these stainless steel and metal are just the minimalistic brackets design.
There is a wide selection of brackets available in all styles of fireplace and kitchen islands. Aside from the basic designs, metal brackets can also come with different styles. You may get a wood bracket instead of metals if you want a bracket with intricate designs.
On the other hand, corbels offer a wide range of designs — from simplistic styles like straight lines for an elegant touch to more intricate and ornate designs like geometrical shapes or florals. With this, it will be easy to find a corbel that will suit your fireplace.
Materials
Corbels are made from metal, stone, wood, laminate, and many more. Most brackets are made from cast iron, wrought iron, and steel, but they can also be made from wood. Corbels are also made from various materials, from rustic corbels to iron corbels.
You may want to consider iron corbels if you ever thought of using corbels over brackets. Iron corbels come in different sizes and are entirely customizable, either handmade or made for custom orders. If you’re aiming for some farmhouse look, go for rustic corbels instead.
Size
Another thing to check out is their size. Brackets are usually deeper, not wider. Although some corbels are deeper as they are wide, they are typically thicker, making them more sturdy than most brackets.
Use
The last thing that separates them from each other is their use. As mentioned, both serve as weight capacity support for fireplace mantels, but corbels are usually made for decoration. It adds elegance to your shelf, countertop, or fireplace mantels. It’s up to you how you want to incorporate it into your overall interior design.
Where To Get Brackets And Corbels
You can find the necessary tools to prepare in your local hardware stores. However, suppose you ever come across a design online and can’t find them anywhere near you. In that case, you can easily order and add them to your cart and have them delivered to your address.
The price of both corbels and brackets depends on the materials’ quality. The high price can be calculated and affected by other factors like craftsmanship. Some corbels and brackets are handmade, meaning manufacturing companies must pay some employees.
How To Install Corbels
Like brackets, the installation for corbels is easy. You first need to determine where the fireplace is, and the next is to know what items it will carry. The hard mount process with bolts and screws is required to support the mantel.
For decorative purposes, corbels can be installed using only wood glue. While if you want to have more security, you must hard mount them using bolts and screws. Below are the simple steps you may follow:
Step 1: Drill two holes at the back of the corbels
Most corbels already have slots, but if you buy ones that don’t have any, you must drill holes at the back so you can hang them easily on the wall. Ensure the holes you’ve created are parallel so your mantel wouldn’t hang unevenly.
Step 2: Check if the holes match the nail size.
It’s crucial to ensure that the nail you use matches the size slot or the hole before hanging the corbels directly to the wall. To be sure, place the nail inside the hole; if it fits securely, it’s on the right side. The worst thing you wish to happen is to use the wrong nail size and your corbels to fall off the wall.
Step 3: Mark the placement for each slot or hole
You can use a pencil to line your corbels and make marks on either side approximately where the slot or hole is located. Please do this for both corbels so they can quickly hammer your nails.
Step 4: Hang your corbels using the nails
Once everything is already in place, line up the drilled hole or keyhole slot with the tip of the nail. Use enough screws to secure and keep the corbels firmly and sturdy. Aside from using screws, you may also use wood glue, but it may ruin the surface if you ever wish to remove your corbels.
Options For Installation
Knowing the type of mantel you want for your fireplace is a necessary starting point to help you understand which installation method you must follow.
You must follow the drilling installation method to use brick, stone, or wall to surround your fireplace. You must drill holes to attach your brackets, corbels, and mantels to the wall.
You should also follow a wall stud installation if you wish to change your space to a new look that requires drywall removal. A wall stud application is also used for the modern floating look on your shelves.
Tips To Design Your Fireplace
When your families and friends come over for a visit, you wouldn’t want them to judge the design of your fireplace. After installing your fireplace mantels using brackets or corbels, it’s time to design them. Consider some ideas below to level up your design:
Tiles
Don’t shy away from using unique tile patterns. Tile finishes create an exquisite touch and bring the space together by looking neat and clean.
Paints
Paint is the most versatile and easiest way to add life to your fireplace. You can go from simple plain colors to experimenting with abstract colors. Whether you have a wooden or brick wall surrounding the fireplace, a fresh coat of paint can make a difference.
Stones
Nowadays, stone designs are considered to have a modern look. If you’re not okay with the first two designs, you can get creative using stones instead. With this, you can rearrange the placement of your stones or maybe choose different hues and colors.
Conclusion
Finding the best brackets and corbels to match your house design can be challenging, especially if you’re only looking and ordering at shops. We suggest you visit some reliable sites online to check for stock while comparing them with your budget range. With this, your options will be unlimited.
Traditional brackets and corbels are worth considering to add depth and dimension to your fireplace, cabinetry, countertops, and more without overpowering the rest of your house design. If you’re aiming for an eye-catching design, you may opt to install brackets and corbels with intricate designs and styles.
Lastly, remember that with all the designs and styles mentioned in this article, there will always be a perfect bracket or corbel for your fireplace or kitchen island. You have to be specific with what type of fireplace mantel you want.