QA

Quick Answer: What Is A Fireplace Mantel

What is the mantle on fireplace?

A mantel, also known as a fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, frames the opening of a fireplace and often covers part of the chimney breast. It was originally developed in the medieval period for functional purposes, to serve as a hood that would prevent smoke from entering the room, diverting it back into the chimney.

What is the difference between a mantel and hearth?

As nouns the difference between mantel and hearth is that mantel is the shelf above a fireplace which may be also a structural support for the masonry of the chimney while hearth is a brick, stone or cement floor to a fireplace or oven.

What were fireplace mantels used for?

The purpose of a fireplace mantel was traditionally to catch smoke before it entered the room from the firebox of an open fireplace, but mantels in more modern times are used primarily for decorative and aesthetic purposes.

What are the parts of a fireplace mantel called?

The fireplace mantel comes in two major parts: the lower mantel and the optional overmantel. The main parts of a lower mantel include the shelf, legs, header, inner trim, and hearth. The main parts of the overmantel are crown and wall cladding tiles.

How is a fireplace mantel attached?

As with many other forms of mantle or shelf, a fireplace mantel can be commonly attached to the wall with screws or lag bolts. Bolts are screwed into the wall above the fireplace before a mantel is slotted straight onto it. In this case any screws or nails may be located on top or beneath the mantel.

Is mantle hot?

The temperature of the mantle varies greatly, from 1000° Celsius (1832° Fahrenheit) near its boundary with the crust, to 3700° Celsius (6692° Fahrenheit) near its boundary with the core. In the mantle, heat and pressure generally increase with depth.

What is the thing in front of a fireplace called?

Hearth. The hearth refers to the horizontal floor area of stone directly in front of the firebox opening. A hearth is usually as wide as the firebox and the legs combined.

What is the difference between a mantel and a fireplace?

In modern usage, mantel refers to a shelf above a fireplace and mantle refers to a cloak or covering. Mantel and mantle are now usually regarded as distinct from each other, with mantel used for a shelf above a fireplace, and mantle used for a cloak or other covering.

What is the piece in front of a fireplace called?

Hearth. Called the outer hearth or hearth extension, this is the area in front of the firebox or inner hearth that’s made of brick or tile to reduce the risk of fires. Fireplace Face. The fireplace face or surround is the part of the fireplace surrounding the firebox that you see in the room.

What are old fireplace mantels made of?

You may find an antique fireplace mantel with a mirror. Some come with drawers neatly tucked away for storage. Since most antique mantels are made in wood, the most common woods are: Chestnut.

How wide are fireplace mantels?

The recommended width for a mantel is 6 inches (15.24cm) wider on both sides. So, if your fireplace is 36 inches (91.44cm), your mantle should be at least 48 inches (121.92cm) wide. Whether you want to install pilasters or not, you’ll need to have the same width for your fireplace mantle.

How much weight can a fireplace mantel hold?

DO NOT OVERLOAD MANTEL: THE MAXIMUM LOAD FOR ALL 60 INCH MANTELS is 150lbs. MAXIMUM LOAD FOR ALL 72 INCH MANTELs is 180lbs.

What is the space above the fireplace called?

The fireplace mantel or mantelpiece, also known as a chimneypiece, originated in medieval times as a hood that projected over a fire grate to catch the smoke. Mantelpiece is now the general term for the jambs, mantel shelf, and external accessories of a fireplace.

What is the lever on the bottom of my fireplace?

What is this? The second handle you may find in your fireplace (usually located on the left inside panel) is a control lever for the outside air kit. When burning your fireplace, the outside air kit lever should always be in the open (or up) position.

What is the door in the bottom of my fireplace?

For fireplaces: Some fireplaces have a small, cast iron door called an ash dump door inside the fireplace in the center of the fireplace floor, or inner hearth. This door leads to the ash pit, an open cavity below the fireplace.

What is a floating mantel?

Our mantels are hollow on the inside, providing an easy alternative to solid wood mantels. Live grain end caps maintain the look of a solid piece of wood. Each mantel is hand crafted from reclaimed longleaf pine, providing a unique look and character that cannot be duplicated.

How far does a mantle have to be above a fireplace?

Most housing codes and the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) state that the bottom of the mantel must be at least 12” away from the top of the fireplace box.

What are 3 amazing facts about the mantle?

Five facts about the mantle include: The mantle makes up 84% of Earth’s volume. The mantle extends from 35-2980 kilometers below Earth’s surface. The mantle is mostly solid rock. The mantle ranges in temperatures from 200 to 4000 degrees Celsius. Convection currents in the mantle drive plate tectonics.

Is the mantle hotter than the core?

How hot are Earth’s scorching insides? The discovery reveals that the mantle under Earth’s oceans — the area just below the crust that extends down to the planet’s inner liquid core — is almost 110 degrees F (60 degrees C) hotter than scientists previously thought, the researchers said.

Is the mantle as hot as the sun?

New measurements suggest the Earth’s inner core is far hotter than prior experiments suggested, putting it at 6,000C – as hot as the Sun’s surface. The solid iron core is actually crystalline, surrounded by liquid.