Installation Guide

Suggested Installation Instructions
for Wall Mounted Mantel Shelf & Floating Shelf
1. Important: Wood mantels are considered a combustible material, so heat clearances must be
adhered to. Before installing, check your local building codes and the manufacturer's instructions
for your specific fireplace insert or stove. Upon receiving your mantel, you may notice the smell
of lacquer or stain. This is not a defect, and will not inhibit the installation process. But if it
concerns you, simply remove the packaging and set the mantel in a space protected from sun and
water (ex. garage) for 48 hours to allow the smell to dissipate.
2. Parts included
• (1) mantel shelf
• (1) hanger board (narrow unfinished board)
• (4) short screws (3 screws if floating shelf)
• (3) long screws (these screws are only for attaching to wall studs - NOT brick or drywall)
• (4) additional short screws (only if mantel ordered includes corbels)
3. Minimum tools required
• Pencil or pen
• Tape measure
• Phillips screwdriver
4. INSTALLATION (in order)
a. Determine location and measure
i. First, measure the width of your mantel or shelf (mantels should be 36”, 48”, 60” or 72”;
floating shelves should be 24”, 36” or 48”).
ii. Using a pencil, mark on the wall where you would like the left and right side of your
mantel shelf to be.
iii. Within those marks, locate 3 studs (2x4 boards) inside the wall you will be mounting to.
For mantels and shelves 48” or longer, attaching to 3 studs is recommended. For mantels
and shelves less than 48” long, attaching to 2 studs is sufficient.
iv. After locating studs, make a pencil mark on the center of each stud located ¾” below the
desired location of the top surface of the mantel shelf (image below).
v. Use a level or tape measure to check that wall marks are at the same height.
vi. Then make corresponding pencil marks on the hanger board, such that the hanger board
will be centered above your fireplace (or desired location).
(instructions continue on back side)
b. Attach the hanger board to the wall
i. Drive the long screws into the hanger board.
1. If using a drill and 1/16” drill bit (recommended): first pre-drill holes in the marks you
made on the hanger board, and then partially drive the screws into those holes.
2. Or if using a Phillips screwdriver: partially drive the long screws directly into the marks you
made on the hanger board.
ii. After the long screws are partially driven into the hanger board, hold the hanger board up to
the wall aligned with the marks you previously made. Drive the long screws completely into
the studs, until the head of each long screw is flush with the surface of the hanger board.
c. Attach corbels to the mantel shelf (NOTE: skip step if your mantel has no corbels)
i. On a soft surface, turn the mantel shelf upside down (so the side with predrilled holes is
facing down).
ii. Using a tape measure and a pencil, make two marks on the bottom surface of the mantel
shelf exactly 5” from the back edge and a minimum of 6” from the left and right edges (refer
to image below). The marks MUST be 5” from the back for successful corbel installation, but
you are free to choose a different distance from the left and right edges depending on your
desired corbel location.
iii. Using a screwdriver or drill, drive 1 short screw into each of the marks you made.
iv. Leave about 1/16” of the screw heads exposed above the surface.
v. Each corbel comes with a pre-attached keyhole bracket on one side. Fit each corbel over a
screw, ensuring the screw head slides into the keyhole bracket on the corbel. If a corbel
does not seem to be fitting snug, the screw should be inserted a little further into the
mantel. If you have difficulty sliding a corbel onto a screw, the screw head may need to be
more exposed.
vi. Optional: Drive one additional small screw into the pre-drilled hole in each corbel to more
securely attach it to the mantel shelf.
d. Mount the mantel shelf to the hanger board (NOTE: this is easiest with 2 people)
i. Locate the 4 pre-drilled holes on the top surface of the mantel shelf.
ii. Hang the mantel shelf on the hanger board so that the pre-drilled holes are facing up, and
so that the back of the mantel shelf is tight against the wall (a second person is helpful to
maintain pressure against the wall). Depending on the size of your mantel shelf, you may be
able to adjust the mantel left or right as desired.
iii. Final step: using a Phillips screwdriver (or drill), drive the small screws straight down through
the pre-drilled holes in the top surface of the mantel shelf.
¾”
desired location of top
surface of mantel or shelf
make marks
corresponding to
location of studs
hanger board centered above fireplace
Optional tools (not required, but recommended)
• Stud finder
• Level
• Drill
• Phillips drill bit and 1/16” drill bit
WARNING: This product can expose you to Formaldehyde (gas), Carbon Black (airborne, unbound
particles of respirable size), N- methylpyrrolidine, Cumene, Ethylene glycol (ingested), and Toluene,
which is known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, go to: www.p65warnings.ca.gov.
Questions? Contact us at [e-mail] or 888-801-3393.