Well, we found a timber for our mantle for $100 vs $950 the place downtown had. Mrs Rocket says its heart pine vs oak, but I can live with that to save $850.
Now the question is how to mount it. It's 8"x8" and I need to go through a 1/2" of drywall and 3/4" of ship lap to secure it.
I bought some 1/4 x 10" lag screws I was thinking of countersinking in at an angle from the top and maybe bottom.
There will be very little weight on it but it does weigh quite a bit itself.
So, any other ideas to install it and cover the holes?
