Measuring
-You will also have to pick out the wood species. We offer oak, maple, poplar, and paintgrade. Paint grade mantels and surrounds will be made out of a mixture of poplar and medium density fiber core (MDF). These materials will provide the best materials for painted applications. Hence, if you want to paint your mantel, order paint grade.
Ordering surrounds:
When ordering surrounds there are 3 critical measurements.
1.opening width
This measurement refers to the distance between the 2 legs of your wood surround. This distance is calculated by adding the width of you fireplace and the width of you decorative facing material around your fireplace on each side. Then rounding down to the closest size.
For example:
Your fireplace width is 35" and you want 5" of tile to show on each side of the fireplace. The "opening width" of the surround you should order should be calculated as followed:
35"+5"+5"=45"
45" is your calculated optimum width. You would round down to 44" to ensure the wood surround will not have a gap between itself and the tile. It is acceptable if the surround overlays some of the tile. We offer surrounds in "opening widths" of 44", 48", 52", 56", and 60".
2.opening height
This measurement refers to the distance from the place where the surround sets on the floor to the top of the facing material above your fireplace. This distance is calculated by adding the height of the top of your fireplace to the height of the facing material above your fireplace. Then round down the the closest size. IMPORTANT: there is normally a combustible clearance between the fireplace and where the mantel or surround begins that is recommended by the fireplace manufacturer. Refer to the installation manual of the fireplace to get this minimum clearance.
For example:
Your fireplace is set on the floor and the height to the top of the fireplace is 32 1/2". You also want 12" of facing material above your fireplace. You would calculate the "opening height" as followed:
32 1/2"+ 12"=44 1/2"
44 1/2" is the "opening height. This measurement will be rounded down to 44". If you do need to round down, check the clearance to combustible and make sure you are above the minimum clearance from your fireplace installation manual. We offer surrounds with opening heights of 36" 40" 44"48"52" and 54".
3. facing material depth
This measurement refers to the distance from where the surround contacts the wall to the point of the facing material that protrudes out the farthest distance away from the wall.
For example:
The face of your fireplace is flush with the wall the surround is going to be attached to. (which is normally the situation). You then place granite around your fireplace that has a thickness of 1 1/4". Your facing material depth is 1 1/4". You would round this # up to 1 1/2" to ensure that the surround will slip over your facing material.
We offer surrounds in 2 depths. 1 1/2" which is used when going over any facing material less then 1 1/2"(tile,granite etc.). And we also offer a 4 1/2"size for brick applications. Surround packages include fir strips to cover the gap between you facing material and the mantel leg.
-You will also have to pick out a wood species when ordering a surround. We offer oak, maple, poplar and paint grade. Paint grade surrounds are made of a mixture of poplar and medium density fiber core (MDF). This material combination will give you the best materials for your surround if you are planning on painting it.
If you have any questions measuring or ordering click on the "contact us" page and contact us!! Ask for Barnaby and he will walk you through the process. Remember it is your responsibility to order the correct size mantel or surround!!!! We will not accept returns for mantels or surrounds that are the wrong size.