Mantel Shipping

    When your mantel is shipped via UPS or Trucking Company, please inspect the packaging for any apparent damage upon delivery. 

   Do NOT sign to accept it from the driver until you determine that the mantel has no damage. If you sign for an accepted mantel that is damaged, the replacement insurance will not apply! Inspect before you accept, please!

    Due to the nature of this large product, packaging material is not 100% recyclable.

Our mantels are made from the most interesting and quality antique historic reclaimed timbers we can possibly source. Each beam has it’s own unique qualities,. 

     After our general design is decided upon, we then mill, plane, maybe do some more milling, assembly, and then start sanding. It’s our attention to craftsmanship and quality finishing that sets us well apart from other reclaimed timber mantel makers.

     We treat our antique wood timbers with the respect we think they deserve. After all, it’s the best wood left in the world! We address our finishing process more like craftsmen address fine furniture than “typical” reclaimed rustic timbers. character, region, and history. Recycled Content YES

   The Reclaimed Timbers that we source from a variety of historic buildings in the Midwest for our *Olde Growth Woods line were originally harvested in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. 

   Most have therefore been air drying for over 100 years already. That means that the cracks and checking in them now is likely to remain stable from here on out. That is one of the main reasons we use them – so we can more safely make our thicker “real” mantel pieces! So – not only are they historic, often more beautiful with denser growth rings, and have lots more character, they are also more stable and MUCH less likely to check or crack then ‘new” wood.

    We also take a great deal of care with our finishes to seal all cracks and checks so the chances are even more remote. HOWEVER, know that it still is possible that a particular piece could still “move’ some, especially when hit with heat. Again, like sap in wood, all wood moves some. No way around it. 

    With our *Mendota Mantels line, we use wood that is NOT reclaimed. It is therefore more likely to check or crack. Again though, thru our careful milling and finishing, we try our best to limit this condition. 

    We also only timbers that have either been kilned dried, OR have air dried for at least three years. A requirement we adhere to religiously even though it is way above “industry standards”. 

   So, yes, your timber mantel could check or crack, but we do our very best to limit that possibility. Again, it’s nature doing it’s thing. We can limit, but not always prevent. So buyer beware eh? If you are real concerned about this possibility, buy a reclaimed piece!

     Our mantels typically have at least five coats of finish applied so they are finished to withstand typical modern furniture use. To clean, simply use a slightly damped cloth and wipe clean. If you wish, a finer furniture polish or wax can be used on rare occasion. 

      RE: SAP: * In the case of any sap leakage from the timber’s knots, apply “Goo Gone” type product on a clean rag. Rub the sap area until the sap is removed. It might take a few times but it’ll come out. So, repeat as necessary. 

     NOTE: Primarily with PINE or FIR pieces, it is not unusual to experience some sap or pitch leaks, especially when the mantel is under heat. This is normal for these species and no amount of sealer or finish can stop what nature has created. Believe us, we’ve tried everything! It’s just the nature of real wood. 

      If you have concerns about this possibility, we suggest you stay away from pine or fir and instead, look at some of our hardwood pieces. We’re happy to discuss this concern relative to the piece you are interested in, so feel free to ask us our opinion about the potential of sap leakage.

In our opinion, the best way to choose a mantel that is right for your home and for you, is pretty simple – buy the mantel that you LIKE the best! Now, having said that, there are a few fairly straightforward guides. The first is to make sure you know the requirements of your local building code to make sure you install your mantel at the proper legal height. 

The LENGTH of your mantel, when all is said and done, is a personal choice. Our suggestion tho is NOT to make it too short. The classic historically typical length of a mantel over the centuries is – at or close to – the entire length of your fireplace wall. It seems it’s just the last few decades where we’ve begun to make them shorter. Again tho, there is no definitive “rule” re: length. 

Buy what you like. Sometimes a compromise might be in order too. The same “non-rule” applies to THICKNESS. How thick your mantel is is strictly a personal, aesthetic choice. Generally, the higher the ceilings and bigger the room, the thicker the mantel. But Again, buy what you like! RE: the DEPTH of your mantel: 

     When you think about the depth of your mantel, make sure you take into consideration whether or not the mantel will be recessed into stone, thereby reducing it’s shelf dimension by an inch or more. It’s wise to imagine what you might, over the seasons want to place on the top of your mantel. 

    Make sure it’s deep enough for the items you might want to display. One last good thought: A word about “MATCHING” your mantel to the rest of your woodwork: Although its tempting to try to find a mantel that matches other wood in your house, it’s often not necessary nor is it always the best design option. 

      Sometimes it IS but often, it ISN’T. Again, there is no hard and fast rule. Both options can work swell even tho our bias, over the years is to find a piece you like and let it ‘stand alone’, on it’s own merits, whether it “matches” or not. We’ve observed over the years, that folks that buy the piece they LIKE, rather than the one they think “matches best”, are the happiest with their choice. Good Luck and Have Fun choosing!