Place a pry bar along the seam where the side pieces of the mantel meet the wall. Tap the pry bar with a hammer to sink it into the seam, then pull the pry bar outward to separate the wood from the wall.
Inspect your mantel to see how it's attached. If it's screwed into the wall, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws and lift the mantel away from the wall. If it uses nails, pry it free from the wall using a pry bar. If it's situated on French cleats, lift it up from the center until it's free from the cleat, then pull it away from the wall.
Pound the bottom of the mantel shelf with a rubber mallet to separate it from the wall if it doesn't release when you pry the base of the mantel away from the wall. Tap it gently, but with enough force to pull the nails from the wall. Once it's loosened, pull out on the shelf to remove it.
That’s terrible advice. Your first step is just going to make a big hole in the wall if it’s held in by screws. Putting a pry bar against drywall then just prying on it is out of the idiots 101 handbook.
We purchased a 1980's house a little over a year ago with a wood-burning fireplace. The brick chimney is on the outside of the 2-story cedar-sided house and extends t...
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Place a pry bar along the seam where the side pieces of the mantel meet the wall. Tap the pry bar with a hammer to sink it into the seam, then pull the pry bar outward to separate the wood from the wall.
Inspect your mantel to see how it's attached. If it's screwed into the wall, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws and lift the mantel away from the wall. If it uses nails, pry it free from the wall using a pry bar. If it's situated on French cleats, lift it up from the center until it's free from the cleat, then pull it away from the wall.
Pound the bottom of the mantel shelf with a rubber mallet to separate it from the wall if it doesn't release when you pry the base of the mantel away from the wall. Tap it gently, but with enough force to pull the nails from the wall. Once it's loosened, pull out on the shelf to remove it.
Wow! This is great information and instructions!