Anyone have experience with me mantel situation
+9
My home is 100+ years old. The stone is old castle stone imported from. Scotland so who knows the age lol 😆 I NEED a mantel. I have a piece of reclaimed oak that would be perfect but am afraid to start or even attempt drilling into the stone. My luck it would come tumbling down. I've seen suspension mantels but would like some advice on what would be ideal in this situation.
Excuse the mess. Getting an early start to christmas 🎄
Your picture is too dark to see what you are referencing.
Advice from a mason, or DIY channel, "stone revival" program.
Hi Erin, my husband and I get the same emails and he read this one. He knows about stone etc. He said that any stone strong enough to hold your chimney is strong enough to be drilled into. He said there is something called a "Lag bolt" that the mason would first put a hole in the stone and then insert this something to hold the Lag bolt, which then would be fastened through your mantel to hold it in place. You would need an experienced person to do this (he said) not a DIY. Good luck!
I would first clean that efflorescence off where the leak was, and the rest could use a cleaning probably too. I would use a waterless cleaner.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jFlqynHYcU&t=31s You can try to use a wire brush to remove the efflorescence first, then use the waterless cleaner. If that doesn't work use muriatic acid with safety precautions of rubber gloves, mask and goggles, and use only plastic utensils.
What is that stone? I am going to assume its Scottish basalt called Edinborough Castle Rock- very dense and hard. I would hire a mason to come in a drill the 3 bolt holes for you if your mounting a solid beam. If you've got local wood guys who make beam/log mantels, they could do it too.
You will need a rotary drill and masonry bit (rent if you don't have), long threaded bolts and 2 part epoxy or construction glue ....
What a beautiful piece of history. Thank you for not thinking about painting the fireplace. I would hang a large painting from the ceiling rather than putting on a mantle.
BTW: the efflorescence is coming from the mortar used between the bricks. it will continue to stain the stone as it is deep inside. I have a very old brick fireplace and researched this as mine does this also.
Why don't you put up a significant size wood free-standing mantle up against your fireplace? It can be easily built.