To Mantle or Not?

[Dinger]

I'm having a hard time deciding. If I do, I think I'll build a fake beam mounted to a cleat. I've looked at some premade "shelves" at Homie-D but thought they looked a little "thin". I like big bulky stuff, like me.

Hindsight, I have some really cool rocks I've been saving in case I ever build, but not really into ripping out drywall at this point to secure them solid.

Input?

 

[becasunshine]

That is seriously pretty! Gorgeous stove- love the lit alcove. Don't do anything to take too much attention away from that stove!

 

[Cowdogz]

I don't think you would necessarily have to tear out the drywall to hang rock on the wall. You might get away with hanging the backer board right over the sheetrock. Rock is kind of a pain because of all the grouting, but worth the time if that's the look you want.

I might think about lining that whole alcove with T+G pine, then put a mantle of rough-cut 2" pine across it. You've got a really nice setup, but it could be even more if you dressed it up a little.

 

[Dinger]

I don't think you would necessarily have to tear out the drywall to hang rock on the wall. You might get away with hanging the backer board right over the sheetrock. Rock is kind of a pain because of all the grouting, but worth the time if that's the look you want.

I might think about lining that whole alcove with T+G pine, then put a mantle of rough-cut 2" pine across it. You've got a really nice setup, but it could be even more if you dressed it up a little.

Across the back I'm fine, but the sides I can't touch as it will put me too close to combustible.

I do love the rock look, but I mistyped rocks, should be one rock. One shelf shaped rock. It would have taken some doing to fasten it securely, and not sure how well it would have blended with the drywall. I think it will be better suited to save it for a real rock mantle later on.

I think I'll mess around a little later and see if I can't photoshop something in there and see if I like it (before submitting for approval from management).

 

[Cowdogz]

Your clearances only need to be 6" to the side and 7" to the back:

(broken link removed to http://www.quadrafire.com/Products/Santa-Fe-Pellet-Stove.aspx?page=Specifications#)

But maybe that space isn't as big as it looks. I'd still go with a rough-cut mantle above the outlet, maybe on all three sides, at different levels even. Yeah.......I'd like to get my hands on that space.

 

[Dinger]

Found this one... I might just give it a try.

http://www.amazon.com/Pearl-Mantels...f=sr_1_17?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1356894250&sr=1-17

 

[Stevekng]

I'm having a hard time deciding. If I do, I think I'll build a fake beam mounted to a cleat. I've looked at some premade "shelves" at Homie-D but thought they looked a little "thin". I like big bulky stuff, like me.

Hindsight, I have some really cool rocks I've been saving in case I ever build, but not really into ripping out drywall at this point to secure them solid.

Input?

View attachment 87006

Do you have access to the sides and back of the stove for cleaning and /or repairs?

 

[sculptor]

I'm in agreement with Cowdogz on dressing the walls, or at least the back wall, with wood or stone, or paint. IMO, a mantle will not only aesthetically divide the space, it will also create a STOP with you accent lighting. The bottom section will live in the shade and negate the beautiful job you did with the space and lighting! Even an accent coat of paint on just the back wall would give an effect without changing the lighting. And, you can easily go backwards with paint!
Looks beautiful!
*a color will also absorb some of the light more than the white wall will.

 

[Dinger]

Do you have access to the sides and back of the stove for cleaning and /or repairs?

Sure do. In fact I made thumb screws on a lathe so the side panels are off in seconds. Ive had the convection fan out for cleaning in situ, and I imagine if I had to pull the comb fan that wouldnt be too much challenge either.

 

[Dinger]

I should mount it straighter...

 

[Dinger]

I'm in agreement with Cowdogz on dressing the walls, or at least the back wall, with wood or stone, or paint. IMO, a mantle will not only aesthetically divide the space, it will also create a STOP with you accent lighting. The bottom section will live in the shade and negate the beautiful job you did with the space and lighting! Even an accent coat of paint on just the back wall would give an effect without changing the lighting. And, you can easily go backwards with paint!
Looks beautiful!
*a color will also absorb some of the light more than the white wall will.

I agree on the light blocking, and am taking it into consideration.. The can light sits out a little further than the mantle would, so I think only the vent would be in the shaded. I think the stove will still be lit, as will the mantle "stuff".

Maybe I'll scab one together from cardboard just to see what it does to the lighting?

Thanks for the compliments, by the way! We just love it...

 

[Pallet Pete]

I should mount it straighter...View attachment 87086

I may be to late but what about a piece of stained glass ? That really looks great by the way !

Pete

 

[Cowdogz]

Just out of curiosity, what is behind/around that space? Does it stick out into an attached garage?

 

[Dinger]

Just out of curiosity, what is behind/around that space? Does it stick out into an attached garage?

Air mostly.

https://www.hearth.com/talk/index.php?threads/Greetings.79352/

I didn't build the home, but I assume ccr's dictated a certain number of architectural direction changes, so an alcove (exterior) was born. It used to house an LP pocket emptier, and a big ugly hole that dumped cold air into the room when not in use. I then added a "cute" electric fireplace, but you could fart and make that much heat. When I was installing the electric, I had a chance to go in the wall. Just took me a couple more years to figure it out.

 

[movemaine]

What about some tile - like travertine? border the the edges, and then the middle portions do diamond style - then you could mount a nice thick stock of wood in there, and it would tie it all together.

And instead of going fake wood, I would look around your area for a section of reclaimed wood beam from a barn.

 

[SXIPro]

Stone veneer or flagstone on the back wall.Then a rough cut beam for a mantle.