A floating mantel can be unsightly and make your room feel smaller. In this blog post, we will go over how to remove a floating mantel. First, purchase some heavy-duty wall anchors from the hardware store. Then, after measuring where the studs are in the wall, drill holes for each anchor into one side of the wall at least four inches away from any electrical outlets or other important fixtures.
Place them every 24 inches apart vertically on either side of where you want to place your new mantle against. Next, grab an assistant and start removing pieces of drywall, so there is enough space for two people to work together comfortably behind it with enough space left for all your tools and
Materials You Needed
- Chisel
- Mallet
- Pry Bar
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Screwdriver
- Rubber mallet
- Wood glue
Steps to Follow on How to Remove a Floating Mantel
Step One: Determine Type of Mantle
You need to know whether the fireplace mantel is “floating” or not. If it has no legs, it is a floating mantle, but if legs support the mantle, you will have to determine what type of support those legs have. A simple test to find out if they’re resting on the floor or attached to a wall is this: try to shake the mantle.
If it moves, then the legs are just resting on the floor, and you can proceed with removing it from above. If there are no visible attachments (lag screws, screws, etc.), try tapping around the mantle. If you hear an echo of hollow wood, then there are likely screws in the mantle. If this is the case, you should use a stud-finder to find where they might be located.
Step Two: Locate Studs
Try using a stud-finder to locate the studs in the wall. If they’re behind the mantle, you will want to poke a hole through one side of it and then carefully cut around where you think the stud might be. Then proceed with removing it from above.
Step Three: Proceed with Removal
Use a hammer to remove the mantle. You may need to adjust your swing so that you can control how it lands on the floor, but do not worry about damaging the mantle at this point since you are most likely going to be disposing of it anyway. Remove any screws or nails that might be holding it to the wall.
Step Four: Proceed to Installation of Replacement Mantle
Once you remove the old mantle, you can install your new one (if they’re different). You will most likely want it to be an “insert” type instead of a floating one since they are less likely to become damaged and not functional.
Step Five: Enjoy Your Newly Installed Mantle
You should now have a functioning, new mantle! Congratulations. Now you can use your fireplace again. And don’t forget to check out other tutorials on the rest of our blog too. Thanks for reading How to Remove a Floating Mantel.
When You Should Remove a Floating Mantel
While many people are clinging to their old fireplaces in the current economy, some houses don’t have them anymore. Perhaps they never had them when built, or they were ripped out in a previous renovation. If you’re selling your house and want that extra selling point of having a fireplace, but there’s no fireplace there.
The good news is that you don’t need to install a very expensive and probably old-fashioned fireplace just for the sake of it. Instead, all you have to do is remove the mantel, and voila – instant open space!
Before You Remove a Floating Mantel
If you’re contemplating doing this project yourself, you should look at hiring a professional. Unless you know what you’re doing, which is highly unlikely, there’s no way to get around working with potentially dangerous chemicals like caustic soda and putty.
However, if you’re determined to do the work yourself, you should read the following before knocking out that mantel. First, look for any nails or screws holding the mantel in place. If they’re only glued, then you should be able to knock them out with a hammer and chisel when you get there.
However, if there are screws in the way, you’ll need to use a drill to get them out. Beware of lead-based paints if you have an old mantel. The paint may be extremely flaky, especially around the edge where it meets the wall, so there’s likely to be lots of dust when you start chipping away at it. If you’re not wearing a mask and full protective gear or cough, this could become extremely dangerous.
Is It Hard to Remove a Floating Mantel?
The floating mantel is the best option for those who want to replace their old, dated kitchen.
However, it does require some work, and there are a few things that you should know before taking this plunge.
It is important to start by determining how high up your current cabinets are from the floor. This will help you decide what type of ledge you will need in order to get the job done.
Once you have chosen the ledge that you want, make sure that it fits into your existing cabinets and make sure that they can slide on top of it easily without any problems. Next, install the new floating mantel shelf using adhesive strips or by drilling screws into your cabinets so that they can slide on top of it as well.
How Do You Remove Floating Mantle from Drywall?
There are many ways to remove floating mantle from drywall. One of the most common methods is using a razor blade. The blade can be used to score the material, creating a hole where you can grab the remaining pieces and pull them off.
If you do not have a razor blade, you could use a screwdriver with a Phillips head or some other type of tool with an aggressive tip like pliers or wire cutters. These tools would allow you to pry away the material without damaging it too much.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Floating Mantel?
It is difficult to estimate the cost of replacing a floating mantel because it depends on many factors like:
- What material is being used for the mantel?
- How much time will it take to replace the mantel?
- Where are you going to get the replacement mantel from?
- What size would you like your new mantel to be?
- What color would you like your new mantel to be?
How Long Should Floating Mantel Be?
Mantels are often seen as one of your home’s most overlooked design features. However, they have been around for centuries and have many benefits that can change the look of your room.
There are a few different factors to consider when deciding on how long your mantel should be. Some people like it short while others prefer it to be longer. The length will depend on the space you’re trying to fill and what kind of effect you want it to have on your space.
The first thing that comes into mind has a mantel that has a height that is proportionate with the height of your fireplace or TV set up on top of it. This way, you’ll create an illusion that there’s more than just one item sitting atop it, rather than just an extra-tall table sitting next to a small fireplace or TV set up.
Another important factor is what type of wood you use for your mantel and whether or not this wood matches the style of your house’s interior design scheme.
The final thing is what size do you want? Do you want something large enough for food preparation? Or do you want something smaller so as not to block any natural light from coming through?
How Do You Hang a Floating Mantel?
The mantel is designed to hang flush with the wall. You will need to have a cabinet that is larger than the size of your mantel, which you can mount on top of it and then use screws or nails to attach it.
Next, you’ll need some brackets, screws, and anchors for the wall in order to attach the mantel. Once you’ve installed these items on the wall, you’ll want to take two measurements from each bracket: one for the depth of your mantle and one for its width. Make sure that both measurements are equal!
Once this is done, screw one end of a bracket into each side of your mantle and place an anchor at each location where you screwed in a bracket. Next, screw another bracket into each side of your mantle but this time set it off about 6 inches from its partner so that there’s room between them for the cord to pass through when hanging.
First, you need to get two cords and attach hooks onto each end of them. Then, you need to take the cords and put them under the brackets on either side of your mantle. Make sure the cords are tight against their mates, and then you can use thumbtacks to keep them in place. Lastly, you need to hook up the other ends of the cords onto the corresponding brackets on either side of your cabinet. This will ensure that the cords don’t fall out while hanging.
Conclusion
The floating mantel is a beautiful architectural detail, but if you want to remove it for any reason – such as moving the furniture around or upgrading your home décor – some steps can be taken before removing it.
To ensure the wall’s stability and avoid damage to other surfaces in the room, put up sheetrock on either side of where the mantel will go back into place once removed. Once this has been done, use wood blocks placed at every three feet to support each end of the mantle while taking out screws one by one from behind with a drill/driver attachment until all have been loosened enough for removal.
