Regardless of which MANTEL YOU CHOOSE TO USE, you will need to identify the height at which you want the mantel to be placed. wood is a combustible material; you’ll want to follow some established guidelines for the minimum distance between a fireplace and a wood mantel.

 

For solid wood fireplaces, the following Clearance to Combustibles guidelines from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) matches the requirements of most localities and fireplace manufacturers.

 

However, be sure to comply with the local laws and manufacturer’s recommendations for your particular model. Your fireplace manual should show a similar diagram with exact measurements.