Can I use a reclaimed barn beam as a fireplace mantel?
Yes — and Fairview is classic propane-and-woodstove country, so a reclaimed barn beam here often sits above a real wood fire, which means mounting it higher to clear the extra heat. Cane Creek Valley's old barns are a natural timber source. The beam has to be checked for pests and moisture and set to the appliance's clearance.
Wood country, real clearance
Fairview's large wooded lots make wood heat natural, and stove and insert demand stays steady out toward Garren Creek and the Charlotte Highway corridor, with propane on many of these rural properties. A wood-burning firebox runs hotter above the opening than gas, so a combustible beam mounts higher — we go by the manufacturer's mantel chart every time.
Timber from the same hills
A reclaimed oak or chestnut beam feels honest here because the Cane Creek Valley is still barn country — rough-hewn timber on the wall echoes what's standing outside. Before it goes up, it's cleared of nails and staples, checked for wood-boring insects, and acclimated so it won't crack once the stove runs all winter.
Keep the sweep on the calendar
Wooded Fairview's creosote buildup is the leading chimney-fire cause without fall sweeps — worth remembering on any home that burns wood under a beautiful beam. If a new insert or propane line is involved, we pull the Buncombe County permit. Call (828) 545-0525; Fairview is 15 minutes east.
Fireplace help in Fairview
We install and service fireplaces throughout Fairview and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes east from our Asheville-area showroom.