Richmond, VA

804.690.1977

Measuring & Pricing

• Size of the Room
• Height of the Ceiling
• Size of the Firebox
• Masonry or Prefabricated Firebox

It is critical to build to "fire code" which generally requires a minimum of 8" on either side of firebox for combustible material (i.e. marble, slate, tile, brick, etc.) and 12" for the top.

Ideally, the space necessary for the mantel on the wall requires twice the width of the firebox opening.

For example, a 36" firebox should have 72" wall before obstructions such as: door opening, window casing, or bookshelf.

A 42" firebox should have 84" of wall space before obstruction.

Ordering your custom-sized mantel from Mantels by Meunier requires the following dimensions:

One
The desired width of the opening, between the two legs of the mantel. This is not the actual width of your fireplace opening, but the width of the fireplace opening plus the clearance on each side. For example, if your fireplace opening is 40" wide and your local fire code requires 6"clearance on each side, then measurement A would be 52" (6+40+6).

Two
The height of the mantel opening. This is not the actual height of your fireplace opening, but rather the distance from the hearth (surface on which the mantel legs will rest) to the top of your fireplace opening, plus the proper clearance above the opening. For example, if the top of your fireplace opening is 30" above the hearth surface and your local fire code requires 12" clearance between the top of the fireplace and the mantel, then measurement B would be 42" (30+12).

Three
The thickness of your brick, tile, or marble fireplace facing material. This is a measure of how far your masonry (brick, marble, tile, etc.) protrudes from the wall surrounding the fireplace. If the masonry is flush with the wall, then measurement C (see below) would be 0".

Four
The height of the top of the fireplace facing surface. This is also a measure of the same masonry surface. The height should be measured from the top of the hearth (the surface on which the mantel legs will rest) to the top of the masonry area. This is important for us to understand how high above the hearth do we need to place the mounts for attaching your mantel to the wall above your fireplace. This is measurement D (see below.)

When specifying your measurements for A and B, you must include proper clearance between the fireplace opening and the mantel woodwork. Typical minimum clearance is 6" on each side and 12" on the top, but you should rely on local building codes and the firebox manufacturer's specifications for the proper clearance.

E = the total width of the mantel shelf
F = the width of the mantel at the outsides of the legs
G = the height of the mantel from floor to top of mantel shelf