How to affix (and suggestions for lightweight) mantle?

[RickBlaine]

People of the Fire:

Hoping you could advise me and my buddy on his new home- I am helping him.

There is currently a pre-cast, 110 pound concrete mantel that is not tight against the brick face. Once we removed it, we found it was attached to a long metal "U-shaped" bracket that was itself affixed to the brick face via 2 lag bolts set into the mortar- not the brick.

The shear weight of the existing concrete mantel scares him.

When installing a mantle, should one use lag bolts, tap screws, (what?) to affix the mantle to the front? Should these go into the mortar or into the brick?

Do you have any recommendations for lightweight, non-combistible material for a mantle about 6 feet wide and 6 inches deep?

Thank you!

 

[pvfjr]

You should be able to find some wedge bolt anchors for concrete/brick down at your local hardware store. Something like this: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200593578_200593578?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Construction > Hardware Kits&utm_campaign=Vestil&utm_content=34356&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=34356&gclid=Cj0KEQiAlO20BRCcieCSncPlqqMBEiQAOZGMnPhIHXWBb0SWYi9FNr8gyKi6HJUv8yZVLojlBdh4yGgaArBc8P8HAQ
Size them appropriately, of course. I would put them into the brick, personally.

So what's wrong with the 110 lb mantle shelf? Is it just the fact that it wasn't flush? Can it be remounted? Don't let the weight scare you, 110 lbs isn't that bad.

Edit: By the way, if you end up needing to drill holes, don't use a normal drill and a normal bit. Get a masonry bit and use a hammer drill. It's the only way to go.

 

[drz1050]

2 bolts supporting that is skimpy at best. Should have a minimum of 4 in that span. How deep are they?

 

[ddahlgren]

Corbels at the ends? Here are some iron ones.
https://www.google.com/#q=iron+mantel+corbels

 

[RickBlaine]

@pvfjr: Thank you for getting back to me. We will use the DeWalt hammer drill and drill additional supports. The 110 pound weight just seemed too much, but you are correct- if properly anchored it won't matter.

@drz1050: Thank you, we will add drill and add 3 additional bolts into the brick, not the mortar. We have no idea how deep the 2 current ones are, but they are in the mortar, not brick. We wonder if the sellers did a hack job to put a mantle up, and after a few weeks it was pulling away from the wall.

@ddahlgren: Thank you....Corbels are also a darn good idea....even if 3 additional bolts secure it, I think my buddy would "feel" better seeing two redundant (and good-looking) supports at the ends. We have no idea how deep those two existing bolts go....will find out this week.

 

[bholler]

Thank you, we will add drill and add 3 additional bolts into the brick, not the mortar. We have no idea how deep the 2 current ones are, but they are in the mortar, not brick. We wonder if the sellers did a hack job to put a mantle up, and after a few weeks it was pulling away from the wall.Thank you!

I usually anchor into the mortar it is less likely to split.

 

[RickBlaine]

I usually anchor into the mortar it is less likely to split.

Far from me to question to your wisdom, but I thought that the mortar would crack more easily? Then again, I don't know nothing about tuckpointing no bricks.

 

[bholler]

Far from me to question to your wisdom, but I thought that the mortar would crack more easily? Then again, I don't know nothing about tuckpointing no bricks.

Generally the bricks are much more brittle and the mortar is softer. So expanding anchors usually hold better in the mortar.

 

[Nick Mystic]

Just a comment on the mantle location: In your photo the mantle looks awfully low to me. If you look at my avatar you can see where the mantle is situated on my fireplace, which I think is a more standard height. I know there isn't a clearance issue with a concrete mantle, but aesthetically it look a bit strange to me.

 

[bholler]

Just a comment on the mantle location: In your photo the mantle looks awfully low to me. If you look at my avatar you can see where the mantle is situated on my fireplace, which I think is a more standard height. I know there isn't a clearance issue with a concrete mantle, but aesthetically it look a bit strange to me.

I agree that his is low but honestly yours looks pretty high to me but there really is not a standard

 

[RickBlaine]

Generally the bricks are much more brittle and the mortar is softer. So expanding anchors usually hold better in the mortar.

Ahhh....I see now. Thank you.

@Nick: Thank you for pointing that out. It looked low to me too, but they want to put a "gi-normous" television above it (think 65 inch), and if they raised the mantle, the TV choices would get smaller.