Mantels

sdbrown1

Second question
What is the average height from the floor to the top of a mantel.

Thanks again

AtlanticWBConst

sd,

We have actually run into all kinds of heights...from 42" ....and up.

Here's a link showing different heights for different styles of mantels:

http://www.mantelsdirect.com/standard.html

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A.W.Davis

I dont think there is an average height because of all of the variables involved.....I will go measure mine real quick and post a height

Try Fosters Mantels to get more info as well

http://www.mantels.net/

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A.W.Davis

Okay just checked my height, its 46 1/2" from finished floor to the top of the mantle

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woodmagman

There is a safety concern for heat to close to combustables. If you are installing a mantel to a new metal wood burner or gas fireplace there are installation instructions that will have a detail on them for how close to combustable you can be from the top and sides of the unit and how far above the opening the mantel can be placed and it s projection based on that hieght. We have seen a couple of jobs were the home owner thought they could install wood over the brick because they saw it on gas fireplaces and started a house fire. Direct vent gas clearences are less typically then open wood burners.

jvsloan

The finished height of the mantle shelf usually falls around sixty inches. This height allows for the right proportions in a room with eight or nine foot ceilings.

In_Mexifornia

Combustable material around opening:
6" min. No combustable material within 12" shall project more than 1/8" per inch of clearance from opening. (3707.H)

Teetorbilt

I work on a lot of old homes and I'm certain that there is no set height in them as they are all over the place. Prior to standardization, codes, etc. you could do whatever you wanted.

Beating many to the punch; most older Florida homes have fireplaces.

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clampman

I would agree and for more than aesthetic reasons. I always tried to keep mine as low as possible and they always wound up very close to 57". This was because of the fire code. I doubt new ones - with brick fireboxes - can be built much lower than that anywhere there are building inspectors.

Metal fireboxes are a different story and vary much more. Some inspectors will use manufacturer's specs for combustables. If so, those can generally be built much lower.

For code purposes, the determining factors start from the top of the face of the firebox. The other factor is the projection into the room from the face of the firebox opening as Mexifornia mentioned. The formula for the sides is more lenient than that for the top of the firebox which is what you are interested in of course.

troubleseeker

I don't know that there is an average height, but as noted by others the mininum size will be a function of mininum clearances for code. Once I establish the required clearances, I try to find pleasing visual proportions based on that. Too me, that means that a mantle built on a raised hearth will need to be a little wider and "beefier" than one build on a flush hearth, so it doesn't look tall and lanky to me. Sometimes it is influenced by the particular customer, who may want the mantle taller or shorter , or by the scale of any surrounding features like bookcases or nearby windows. I really try to have customers find a few pictures for me, so that I at least have a sense of their expectations, then I draw my idea on the wall, and add a few rough pieces of mouldings to give them a feel for scale and depth.

nywoodwizard

You are correct there are all different sizes,and some are a mater of dimention preferences.It all starts with the fire box first,once the clearence is factor is nailed down (read manufactures instructions) then start designing.

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