Why wooden fireplace mantels are simply the best

Freddie Armstrong

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Fireplace mantelpieces come in a range of different materials. But if you’re looking for something with style and substance, wooden fireplace mantels are the way to go. We’ll take a look at why fireplace mantels made from wood really are better than all the rest.

Wooden fireplace mantels are built to last

Here at Traditional Beams, all of our wooden mantels are made with oak. As a hardwood, oak is the perfect choice for a mantelpiece because it is tough and hard-wearing. In the past, oak has been used to build everything from houses to boats.

Traditionally, oak was used as a building material because, as it ages, it gets even stronger and harder. So when you install an oak beam in your home, you know that it will last for a long, long time. You won’t have to worry about replacing it any time soon. In fact, oak can and does last for hundreds of years, so chances are your fireplace mantel will be around longer than any of us. A refreshing change in today’s ‘throwaway’ society.

Wooden fireplace mantels can be styled to your taste

Wood is an extremely versatile material, so there’s a large range of choice when picking your oak fireplace beam. Wooden fireplace mantels can be rustic or modern, dark or light, have a reclaimed look or finished so that they are almost completely smooth. This means that you’re sure to find a wooden mantelpiece that will suit your home perfectly.

And you don’t have to stick with your home’s current style when it comes to buying wooden fireplace mantels. A rustic beam can look good in a modern home and a more modern beam can create a stunning contrast in a traditional-style house.

Oak doesn’t dent easily

As well as looking good, wooden fireplace mantels are also the practical choice. Whereas other materials (and even other woods) may mark or dent easily, oak is extremely hard and resistant to knocks, so the scratches and scrapes that may appear on some softer woods over time shouldn’t be a problem with oak.

Wooden beams are timeless

Oak has been used as a building material for hundreds of years. This consistent use of oak has given it a timeless feel, meaning that it never goes out of fashion – making it the ideal choice for your home.

All of our wooden fireplace mantels are air-dried for at least a year – and the oak is sustainably sourced

We make our fireplace beams from air-dried oak, so that once they are installed, movement is minimal. What’s more, we ensure that we get all of the oak for our wooden fireplace mantels from companies who source from properly managed sustainable European Woodland. So if you’re looking for a premium quality oak fireplace beam, you’ve come to the right place.