Our house had a white brick fireplace that back-drafted badly. It was flanked by a radiator on one side. I built a wall to wall mantle with a radiator cover on one side and a bookcase on the other side of the fireplace consistent with the style of our home, built in 1919. A gas fireplace insert took care of the back-drafting problem. The mantle was built with maple and finished in a cherry stain.
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Decks must be able to withstand high winds, so choose fasteners that offer the uplift resistance you need for your area.
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