How to Build FIREPLACE MANTEL-103 Part 10: Paneled Frieze

[This is part of my FIREPLACE MANTEL-103 series.]

During this installation sequence, I’ll show you how I built and installed the frieze and how I mounted the pilasters to the wall.

Step 1: Make the Frieze

This beautiful inset paneled frieze is made from this extensive list of materials: MDF-200 and PM-004.

That’s it.

Below Note how I scribed layout lines on the frieze.

Each line corresponds to a layer of molding; from the mdf for the frame, the screen molding inside the frame and to the crown molding that will go at the top after the freeze is installed.

Below Making the height of the inset panel identical to the height of the panels in the lanterns is a very important design element.

If you deviate from this convention, then just make sure you have a very good design reason to justify it.

Above Creating a beautiful inset panel is as easy as wrapping this simple frame of MDF-200 around the freeze.

Below Equally as simple is installing the small panel molding, PM-004.

Below Correction: I should have said the frieze is almost ready to install.

Because before I install the frieze, I get to permanently mount the left pilaster to the wall.

Here’s how to do it.

Step 2: Install the Pilaster Nailers

I scribed the inside edge of the pilaster so I knew where to attach my nailer to the wall.

Step 3: Mount the Left Pilaster to the Wall

Use Liquid Nails along with 18 gauge brad nails to nail through the pilasters and into the nailers.

Step 4: Mount the Right Pilaster

Before I mounted the right pilaster, I double-checked to make sure that the frieze would fit snug between the two mounted pilasters.

This required some juggling on my part, holding the pilaster and frieze in place at the same time, but with this test-fit completed I was confident to commit to glue and nails.