I hope to get lots of feedback on my mantel design. I plan to live in this house for quite a while, so any construction tips will be very helpful. There is a carving that I bought from the internet that goes on the raised section in the center. The corbels are also carvings. They are too detailed to draw in sketchup, so I modeled them as close as I possibly could. There is a dentil molding that goes on the crown that I didn't take time to model also.
I don't know all the terminology for the mantel parts, so you'll have to educate me. My plan is to assemble the entire horizontal section and to hang it on a french cleat. The cripples will be carefully cut to size and screwed to the wall such that the fluted uprights will cover the screws. The corbels will be glued and screwed to the fluted uprights from behind. The fluted uprights will installed with finish nails. The bases and crown will be put on last with finish nails also. Please tell me any concerns with design. Is it too busy? Will it fall apart later? Should I prefinish anything or just finish everything after it's installed? Let the commentary begin!
Thanks in advance!
Lee
I don't know all the terminology for the mantel parts, so you'll have to educate me. My plan is to assemble the entire horizontal section and to hang it on a french cleat. The cripples will be carefully cut to size and screwed to the wall such that the fluted uprights will cover the screws. The corbels will be glued and screwed to the fluted uprights from behind. The fluted uprights will installed with finish nails. The bases and crown will be put on last with finish nails also. Please tell me any concerns with design. Is it too busy? Will it fall apart later? Should I prefinish anything or just finish everything after it's installed? Let the commentary begin!
Thanks in advance!
Lee