A fireplace, a mantle, and a TV

[WTFHORNFAN]

I have read that the drawback of placing a TV above the fireplace is the need of looking upwards to watch it. However, this is the design of my new family room.

I am faced with an issue I would like others' thoughts on: How low is too low to place a mantle above a fireplace and then, what is the minimum space that I could get away with allowing between the mantle and the bottom of a mounted flat panel television? My thought is to try and get the mantle as low as possible and then the TV as low as possible before hitting the height at which observers might say "Damn your mantle is low" or "Why is your television right on top of your mantle?".

As a point of reference I measured the top of the fireplace (which is a fairly typical one piece metal insert) at approximately 45 inches. Would putting the mantle right there so that it was about 4 feet off the ground be weird? Any reactions are appreciated.

 

[jimmyjazz]

What kind of facade surrounds the firebox? Stone? Brick? Tile? What's the "characteristic dimension" of that facade (i.e., 2" x 6" bricks, 12" square tile, etc.)?

How wide is the firebox?

Our family room mantle is WAY above our firebox. The box is pretty standard, but the hearth is about a foot tall, so everything's elevated a bit compared to normal fireboxes. However, the mantle is probably 6.5 feet off floor level, and at least 2.5 feet above the top of the firebox. Then again, it's an 18 foot ceiling, so there's a whole lot more space above the manlte than in most rooms.

I haven't seen too many mantles less than 5 feet off the floor, though. The mantle in our master bedroom is at 6 feet with the hearth at floor level. It's pretty formal, but I can't imagine dropping it more than a foot. It would look silly. I'd put 5 foot at the lower limit, and I wouldn't put the bottom of your TV anything less than a foot above that. You want to be able to put SOME things on your mantle.

 

[Roger]

do away with the mantle altogether and then the bottom of the TV can start at 5 feet


I'm doing some remodeling in a house we are about to move in and there was no mantle and no good place other than above the fireplace for the TV. I had them mount an electrical cord in the brick at about 5 1/2 feet and the HDMI and Speaker Wire right below that. Once its done I'll try and post a picture

 

[DCLonghorn]

In reply to:

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[ousuxndallas]

We put our 50" plasma above the fireplace, and it works and sets up fine. Your mount allows you to tilt the TV down a few degrees, so the strain on your neck is not noticeable. I think the bottom of our TV is about 5 feet above the floor.

 

[NCAAFBALLROX]

To the OP: How about a photo of your situation?

Related, but O.T.: What's the issues (or not any) related to fireplace heat & drafting towards the TV?

Not that I'm going to get one, but is a plasma any better / worse than other varieties in regards to this heat issue?

 

[alden]

I vote no mantle. There's really no purpose if there's going to be a tv right above it.
I bet there's another place for the tv though.