How to Install a Mantel onto a Brick Profile:

1.Set full mantel up onto brick hearth and flush back against the brick that runs up the wall. Make sure the mantel is somewhat centered with the fireplace opening (where the wood goes).

2.Make a pencil or chalk mark along the top of the shelf. Once your mark is visible and completely across the top of the shelf take the mantel down off the hearth, away from the fireplace and position the mantel so the pieces on the back of the mantel can be removed. The best way to do this is to lay the mantel on it's face on the floor. Make sure you don't scratch the shelf nosing.

3.Remove the scribe moulding. The scribe pieces are the 3 pre-cut pieces on the back of the mantel.  The pieces are attached with 16-gauge brads and a good claw hammer is the best way to remove them. A claw hammer works best because it rolls in such a way as to not damage the scribe moulding. Set the pieces aside.

4. Remove the nailing strip from the mantel.  It's okay to claw this piece away from the mantel because the back isn't going to be seen and the nailing strip isn't going to be seen so it can be slightly damaged.

5.  Take the nailing strip from the mantel and grab a pencil.

6.  Fold the nailing strip over and place the top of the strip on the original mark. This new mark is 3/4" below the top of the mantel because the mantel shelf is 3/4" tall.

7.  Roll the strip over so the top of the nailing strip is slightly below the second line. Now make a mark on the bottom of the nailing strip.

8.  Drill 4-5 holes into the grout of the brick between the last two marks. Set the strip back up and follow your drilling through the nailing strip into the grout holes.

9.  Drill the holes in the nailing strip to match up with the holes in the brick.  You may want to drill the holes in the nailing strip and the grout at the same time.  Just make sure you're drilling into grout and not brick.

10.  After your holes are drilled use blue concrete screws to fasten the strip to the wall. Use the same size as the drill bit used to create the holes and at least 2 inches long.  Be careful not to tighten the screws too tight or they will strip out and loosen the grout.

11.  Slide the mantel back over the nailing strip and center around the firebox. Once centered, use 16-gauge nails or regular finishing nails to fasten the top of the shelf to the nailing strip.

12.  Take the 3 pieces of scribe moulding you took off the back of the mantel and put all three in place back against the brick before nailing. Once you have all three pieces in place and everything fits and looks nice nail the scribe moulding to the mantel.

The gap between the mantel where the scribe moulding goes looks like this before the scribe goes on:

And afterwards it looks like this:

And finally it looks like this.