I’m making a simple six foot long oak mantel for a brick fireplace. My concern is attaching it to the brick. Can I just drill maybe four holes into the bricks and use expansion shields or “red heads”? If used, will the brick withstand the pressure and not crack?
Thank you in advance for your responses!
Gene
Replies
Gene,
I attached a mantel in our previous home using expansion shields. When we moved (after 8 years) there were no cracks.
I do not know if I was "technically" suppose to do it, but I did and it worked.
Hope this helps some.
RR
It should work fine. If the brick is up against a hollow space, like a wall, you can use the type of hollow wall anchor that expands on the other side, never to be pulled out again, and uses the back side of the wall as support as well. It is stronger than just an anchor. However, if it is just a simple brick wall, anchor bolts are the way. They make some now that use epoxy to set the bolt, and don't rely on expansion to hold the thing in place. This helps to avoid the pressure cracks that can occur. I'd bolt a cleat to the wall, then attatch the mantle to the cleat with screws and plugs, or just nailed in.
Gene,
I've built several mantles and usually design them so a 3/4" thick plywood ledger board (or shallow box, for built out mantles) is attached directly to the brick or masonry surface, and the actual mantle screws to the ledger board with #10 round head screws. The screw holes are easily plugged with matching wooden plugs.
To attach the ledger board, or box, to the brick I have always used 1/4" Tapcon screws. These are the blue colored fasteners available in most hardware stores. To use them, drill a pilot hole in the brick with a 3/16" masonry bit; the screw cuts threads in the undersized hole as it goes in. The screws are easily unscrewed if necessary. I have never had any problem using these screws; I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else who uses them regarding problems, etc. GP
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled