Removing a mantelpiece

Google has failed me on how this was fixed on. I want to keep the tiles for sentimental reasons and replace the top with Tas Oak to match how the furniture will be. I could take off the quarter round to see if there is a clue to how it is fixed on. Wallpaper will be going as well.

Has cupped as one of it’s sins.

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Mathy

Hi @Brad I’m taking a guess here based on a couple of fireplaces that I’ve had. It’s either an old fireplace, and someone has tiled the timber surround (looks like the insert is no longer present). However, judging by the glimpse of skirting board, this is not an old house (say 1900 - 1930)? So, the other alternative is that it might be an old gas heater (1970’s - and I have one), that someone has removed the heater from, added the tiles to the surround and bought an old mantle piece for it. The actual mantle piece look like an old one you’d pick up at the salvage yard, and is possibly upside down 😂

If it was genuine (that is “old”), it would probably have nails - a pair at either end fixing into the most solid part of the structure (timber) underneath - the underneath would be secured into the wall (??masonry/limestone) by nails into wooden wedges.

If it’s a 1970s style place, built of double brick, then it’s possibly a brick surround for a gas heater underneath those tiles. The size of the tiles and the width of the grouting, plus the skirtingboard kind of screams 1970 to me - I’m looking at something similar, in it’s original form, right now 🙂

Think you’re correct, remove the quarter round and have a gentle pry with screwdriver and see if it lifts - it’s possible that it’s not well installed at all, and will easily come away, hope this offers some clues, cheers Deb 🙂

gippslandhome

@Mathy

Hey Deb😁

I just wanted to say your knowledge base absolutely blows me away. I always love being involved in your discussions.

I have alot of respect for you abilities and skill set.

Kind regards Rob 👍

Brad

It dates back to 1955. Backs onto double brick wall, brick chimney and fan forced wood heater are originals. I know my Grandfather did the tiling on it as part of his job, this and the toilet floor are still original. Given that it is fairly square I am guessing it is brick underneath rather than wood as most of the wood in the house has twisted. Thanks for the clues.

gippslandhome

@Brad as a tiler Brad I know alot of the original tiling back then was all handfixed not done with a notch trowel.

I'm wondering if the actual mantle has a middle wooden T section that is cement in as the bricks and then the tiling was then later done.

I've only pulled down a handful of old chimney heater mantels like that.

Brad

So the 1/4 round was easy to take off, tiles go to the top so it makes it hard to lever up with out damage to them. Opened enough gap in between the wall and ran a multi-tool blade along the widest part of the gap and it feels like there is no wall fixing and it feels more masonry than wooden bottoming out. I will see if it will jack up from one end to pull any nails out when I have some spare time.

Brad

There ends the easy part.
4 bolts set into concrete that was also used to hold the top row of tiles. Under that it is brick.
Now I could go all Kirsten Ramsay and try to fix the tiles or admit I am not stoked with the colour they are and move onto something else that I do like.

redracer01

Remove timber beading with sharp chisel and see if it is glued on. Then using the persuader gently tap along bottom base to loosen mantle. Gently...gently...gently.

Mathy

Hey @Brad - could you explain the 4 bolts into concrete a bit better? They’re holding on the top row of tiles? Are sure the “concrete” isn’t grey, cement based tile adhesive? And what sort of bolts? Are they Dynabolts, or some sort of bolt headed thing that’s been sunk into a wall plug?

Don’t go Kirsten Ramsay just yet. If it’s a old cement based tile adhesive, those tiles might come off quite easily, I’ve just removed 7sqm of 1” mosaics from that sort of stuff. I’m just trying to figure out what the bolts are actually doing. Cheers Deb 🙂

Brad

Looks like the tiles were fixed to brick and were used as formwork to pour concrete which then had the top placed with the bolt heads down locking it in when it set.

Bolts screwed in.

Concrete

Mathy

Hey @Brad - in the first picture, those are not bolts - they are a form of “nail”, with some sort of rough cut “washer” underneath. Are those fixed into the TOP of the mantle piece? I think you said the work dated back to 1955 (Grandad), but this is not a new build at that time, this looks like an older home that was modified in the 1950s.

Can you attempt to orientate the above images with respect to those in the first set of photos? It’s really hard to work out what is what in these. It looks like the tiles have formed a mould for the concrete, possible that an old, brick open fireplace has been enclosed? I remember you said this backs onto a room with a wood oven and chimney. It’s quite possible that this is the fireplace on the other side - rooms usually have back to back fireplaces that use the same chimney.

This is fascinating, although I can understand your frustration,, cheers Deb

Brad

Definitely bolts looks like carriage bolts that had the heads ground down to fit a spanner.

Including a pic of the offending combustion heater.

Was a greenfield site when my parents got a war service loan to build. Grandfather worked for the builder.

Mathy

WOW, don’t those bolts look a whole lot different in close-up. In the original photo they looked like nails for horseshoes. I’d get the angle grinder out and cut them off, see if the mantle piece will lift off from them - it looks like they’re the only fixings 🙂

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