Floating shelves and box mantles are popular items that are commonly requested by customers. Many newer homes have existing drywall alcoves with no shelving and a basic mantle, or no mantel at all above the fireplace. Box mantels and floating shelves can dress up a space and add real estate value. They can be finished with either paint or stain. Material Selection and Tools A great product always starts with great material! It's more difficult to make something nice out of material that is warped, bowed, or defected in some way. With the exception of reclaimed projects, which we will approach differently, we hand-pick the pieces of lumber we will be using to build each project. For this project, the customer had requested Pine. We were able to find very straight, nice 8' lengths of #2 Pine at our local lumber store, and this was a great start to the box mantel and floating shelf project! Tools, Processes & Systems Once the material is back at the shop, it's time … [Read more...] about Building Box Mantels and Floating Shelves