Does The Mantel Shoppe build any arched mantels?”
We try to stay away from arched mantels because of the problems they create with getting everything else right around the fireplace. Most fireboxes have codes that require wood to be 10-12 inches away from the top of where the heat comes out. Most tile and marble applications are 12 inches standard on the top. If we make an arch, we have to start at the top of the profile 12 inches away and the top of the arch goes up to 16 inches or so leaving a rather large gap. The only way to compensate for this is by putting up a larger profile above the fireplace thus costing our customers more to get their fireplace ready for one of our mantels. Also, this raises the mantel height several inches. With flat panel televisions being so popular, above the fireplace is a prime spot for hanging the television. Most of our customers don’t want the television to be too tall so this is another reason we stay away from arched mantels. The final reason is our scribe molding. Our scribe molding is a major p
