Shiplapped Faux Fireplace

Oops! We did it again!! When we built our first fireplace in our Florida house, my mom let us know she wanted one as well. So we put together a plan and over the last weekend we built our second fireplace. It took two days of building to complete the fireplace. Prior to building, we spent 2 days replacing the flooring in the family room and the kitchen.

This flooring is from Lowes you can find them HERE. It looks awesome, and she loves it! I can’t wait to see this all throughout the house. Once we had the flooring done, we moved on to the fireplace!

The fireplace is built on an existing wall and is anchored into 3 1×6 boards on the wall which are anchored into studs in the wall. This holds the entire fireplace and makes it easily removable, the only damage to the wall is the attachment of the 3 boards. On this wall, prior to build, there was a large window. My mom had a contractor take the window out and run the electrical lines we would need for the fireplace. There are 2 cords at top which are ran by a switch for the sconce lighting, and one cord on the lower right for a power box for the fireplace insert. Carson wired the box and the sconces.

Once the two sides were built and attached, we built the front and attached. The wall goes together fairly easily. We put a horizontal wide board where the mantle will hang, this is for anchoring. There is also a vertical wide board down the top center for anchoring. This wall is not built to hold a television mounted on the wall.

Once the framing was complete, Carson went to work wiring, and I started building the mantle. To start that process I used 3 1×8 boards but to length. I stained the front and all sides of the front board and the fronts only of the top and bottom board. This type of mantle is made to look like a beam (it’s a faux beam mantle).

Once the boards are dry, we used a brad nailer with 2″ brads to complete the box. the top and bottom boards set behind the front board and area nailed in from the front. once the 3 sides are together, a piece is cut to fit the box holes on each end, these are nailed in at an angle then stained. To hang, 3 pieces of 1×3 boards are screwed into the wall at the point of the mantle brace inside the wall, use a long level when hanging so these are straight. Then you set the mantle on the boards from the open back and secure from the top into the braces with wood screws. This mantle was done with a 2 step process. Part 1 using a white wash or pickling stain like this, HERE. You apply and wipe off leaving a light color beneath. Then we used Minwax Dark Walnut to stain HERE.

All the shiplap is complete, and the trim is going on! Once the trim is done, we will fill cracks and nail holes then paint. We used white trim paint. The mantle hang is last, and it is done. We will set the fireplace box in once it arrives, and it will be completely complete. For my full tutorial, click HERE.

Here she is! I’m very pleased with the build! Mom will be painting her wall once she decides what color she’s going with, and we will put floor trim down as well when she’s done. We are so happy with the result, and mom loves it!