Removing oak beam fireplace mantel

[Jdwood38]

Hi all,

The house that we have recently moved into has an oak mantel fixed to the wall above the fireplace and for the life of me I cannot remove it! So just looking for suggestions on how it might be fixed....

I've looked for recessed screws on all sides incase they're holding it to a bracket - no joy. I've been hammering away at the underside of it incase it's fitted into 'key way' brackets - no joy. I've had a pry bar behind it incase its friction fixed onto metal bars sticking out of the wall or something - no joy! It does rock up and down as though it's fitted onto some sort of bracket but can't work out how it's fixed.

Any suggestions?!

Thanks in advance

 

[lostinthelight]

You'll get better help with Pictures from front above and below

 

[sxturbo]

In my last property I put an oak mantel in, it just slid into place on brackets that went deep into the mantel

I left it to dry out for 2 weeks before fitting it and it was supposedly already dried.

Anyway about 6 months after fitting it it shrunk and twisted ever so slightly, but by doing this meant the mantel was permanently stuck in situ.

I used anchor bolts to put it in place to, so the next owners of the house that want to remove it are going to have a hard time.

Only way really is to cut it so the mantel splits allowing you to remove it without damaging the wall

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Sounds like they bought your house, then!