Fireplace Mantel
The mantel; that shelf over your fireplace is an important part of the overall look of your fireplace. The mantel occupies a special place which makes it unique in your home. The mantel is in many cases made from special material, lending elegance to the fireplace while drawing in the eye. Family heirlooms and other prized possessions are often displayed here.
Your mantel may also occupy an important role psychologically and spiritually. It can be a great focal point for prayer, meditation and reflection. At Christmas, where else but the mantel to hang those stockings "by the chimney with care"? It is a place which will show up in many cherished memories.
When buying a home, you may or may not like the mantel which is already there. A good looking mantel can go a long way towards selling a home; and realtors are well aware of this. If the mantel does not meet your tastes, don't worry – it can be switched out. This is not a decision to take lightly. It may take a professional to change it out if it is mounted into the fireplace walls. This can be expensive to have done and if the installation was not properly done, repairs may be needed during the process.
When you put in your own custom mantels, you have to opportunity to put in a mantel which has a special meaning to you. Perhaps you can make a mantel out of wood from a tree you played in as a child – or any other material which tells a story or has a personal meaning to you or your family. It is the small things like this that make a house a home.
You might find that you need to install a new mantel since the old mantle is in poor shape and/or has deterioration in the fittings which hold it in place. A wooden mantel can fall apart due to poor maintenance or simply being made from wood which is not heat resistant enough.
This is your opportunity to choose a mantel which fits in nicely with your decor and appeals to your personal aesthetic tatses more so than the one which was there when you purchased the home. Changing the mantel can be a costly undertaking, but if it is a better fit for your home and your family will reap reward many times in time.