Lexington Hearth Hitching Post 78-Inch Concrete Faux Wood Mantel Surround

A full surround, not a shelf: a 78.5-inch rail on two trimmable posts

The Lexington Hearth Hitching Post is a non-combustible cast fireplace surround rather than a mantel shelf. The rail measures 5 by 5.5 inches and runs 78.5 inches long at 80 pounds, and it rests on two posts, each 5.25 inches deep by 5 inches wide and 56 inches tall, weighing 54 pounds the pair.

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.

The posts can be cut down for a lower opening

This is the detail that decides whether it fits your fireplace. The 56-inch posts are made to be trimmed, so a shorter opening does not rule the surround out. Lexington is specific about how: use a wet saw or wet-cutting methods to keep the dust down, work in a well-ventilated area, wear safety goggles, and use a NIOSH-approved respirator with an N100 or P100 filter. That is not optional advice on a cast product containing crystalline silica.

The rail weighs 80 pounds and the posts 54 pounds the pair, 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

Maduro, Pale Honey and Weathered Grey are the standard colors we carry. 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 framing a fireplace completely, where a shelf alone would leave the opening bare

The Hitching Post is the one Lexington product that frames the firebox on three sides instead of sitting above it. It suits a plain drywall or rendered chimney breast with nothing to give the opening definition, and it carries the same weathered character as the rustic beams: deep weathered woodgrain, tool marks, insect damage, nail holes, saw marks, checks, splits and character knots. If your fireplace already has a stone or brick surround and only needs a shelf, one of the non-combustible mantel shelves is the right product instead.

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.