Fireplace Mantel

[Scott Gibbons]

I am getting ready to start my next project. I am going to redo our "builders special" fireplace mantel. It will be painted, so I had initially planned on using MDF, however I have two small children and I am concerned about its durability. I have tossed around poplar but would anyone else have any suggestions?

[Leo Graywacz]

Soft maple. A lot harder than poplar and easy to paint. Usually the wood is miscolored and is best painted.

[Scott Gibbons]

Thanks Leo!

[Leo Graywacz]

Poplar will be cheaper but MDF will damage easier on the corners. The flat areas of MDF are quite hard.

[Jamie Buxton]

There's building code about flammable materials near fireplaces. Our code (yours might be different) says "No combustible material within 12" of the fireplace opening may project more than 1/8" for each 1" of clearance from the opening."

[whit richardson]

Pine with plywood can be an option too. Just seal it before painting (wood sealer sold at paint or hme store) and use good primer.

[Jeff Nolan]

I built this about 6 years ago, it's MDF. As you can probably tell from the mixture of artwork on the mantle, I have young children; durability has not been an issue. MDF is brittle on hard edges but from a design standpoint you want to avoid that anyway, on a mantle an edge profile like a stopped chamfer works really well.

[james mcgrew]

roll your edges 1/8th inch or better and durability will increase

jim