Choosing a Mantel for Outdoor Firepace

Something a little rustic and different from ones you see all the time is what we wanted but where do we start?  That question was answered by a TV show that Dwight just happened to spot while channel surfing, How to Do Florida was featuring deadhead logging and Bruner Lumber Company. Deadhead logging is recovering logs that were cut in the 1800's and early 1900's and lost in the river on their way to market.  Bruner recovers Cypress from the Choctawhatchee River so we made an appointment and visited.

We walked around the property and picked out a log.

This is the Cypress log that we chose.  We know that this log was cut prior to 1890 because they started sawing trees down in 1890 and this one was cut with an ax.   It had been in the Choctawhatchee river until Bruner pulled it out.

This is the other end of the log.  Our mantel was cut from this end.  Dwight used a wire brush and cleaned it and sanded the top and bottom.  He then applied about 6 coats of Tung Oil and sanded between each application.  It is not stained but the cleaning and Tung Oil brings out the color of the Cypress.  They call those little dimples in the log scallops and they are caused by the water current and sand in the river.

Below is the fireplace where the mantel is going.

The mantel is installed and the firelpace will be complete when the tile guy returns and finishes the slate.

The other side of the outdoor area.  The columns and the Travertine pavers are done and the fans have been installed.  The single door on the left goes int the master bedroom and the double doors just to the right go into the study.

 The pool still has to be completed but the builder wants that to be last so that we don't have to maintain it before the house is finished.