Lexington Hearth Flat Sawn Beam Indoor/Outdoor Mantel

A narrow 4-inch face on an 8.25-inch shelf, modeled from western red cedar

The Lexington Hearth Flat Sawn Beam is a wall-mounted, non-combustible cast mantel shelf modeled from a rough-cut western red cedar beam. Its cross-section is 8.25 inches deep by 4 inches high, and that narrow face is the whole point of it: rough-sawn woodgrain on the top and bottom surfaces, with a smooth face showing circular saw marks.

Non-combustible is what lets a television go above the fireplace

Cast in Burncrete and certified to ASTM E136, the standard test at 750 degrees Celsius. In Lexington's words the non-combustible option "allows for closer placement to heat sources, making it an excellent choice for safely mounting a TV above the fireplace." A wood mantel sits at whatever clearance your fireplace manufacturer sets, and that clearance is often what pushes a television too high to watch. Your fireplace manual still governs the height.

Deep shelf, shallow face, which is an unusual combination

Most cast beams get deeper and taller together, so a mantel with room to display things also has a heavy front face. The Flat Sawn Beam separates the two: 8.25 inches of usable depth behind a face only 4 inches tall. On a wall where a chunky timber would dominate, this gives you the shelf without the mass, which is why Lexington places it in contemporary and transitional rooms rather than rustic ones.

It weighs 63 pounds at 48 inches, 80 at 60 inches and 97 at 72 inches, so fix the bracket into framing

The bracket carries the whole weight, so it has to reach structural framing rather than drywall anchors. Bracket, hardware, touch-up kit and manual all ship with it.

Hand-painted, so no two are identical, and custom colors are available

It is offered in five standard colors. Lexington casts and paints each one by hand and states that there will be minor variances in color, weight and final dimensions. That is the nature of the product, not a defect. They will also produce custom colors and lengths on request, so contact us before ordering if the standard range does not suit. Order a Bluegrass color sample first either way: what you pay for it is credited back when you buy the mantel.

Best for contemporary and transitional rooms that still want real timber texture

The Flat Sawn Beam is the bridge between the rustic cast beams and the smooth Architect profiles. The circular saw marks on the face keep it from reading as a plain box, while the slim front edge lets it sit above a linear firebox or a tiled surround without competing. It is also the cast mantel with the most accessories: extensions, mantel corners and decorative corbels are all made for it. If you want no timber texture at all, the Horizon is the smooth modern option.

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including ceramic fiber and crystalline silica dust, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. Do not drill, saw, sand, or machine Fiber, Burncrete, or Media products, as this generates these airborne dusts. Avoid inhaling dust; use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. For more information, visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.