Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - New Mantle for fireplace

We have a brick fireplace. It has an insert for heating. It has no mantle.

We want to build a wood mantle. It will be built from the base (brick also) up the sides, with the top mantle.

I understand that since the heater insert is metal, we shouldn't put the new wood up next to the insert because of a possible heat problem.

How far away from the heater insert should we plan on putting the wood, would one inch be sufficient? The heater insert is black and we'll paint the brick with black heat resistant/fireplace paint so the gap doesn't look bad.

Thanks - any help is appreciated!

Generally, the local building code will address this. The folks who sell inserts and gas logs locally often can tell you.

We get these questions all the time about how folks have ideas about refacing fireplace fronts and mantels. Check your local building codes for requirements, which may supercede the manufacturer's. You can also check your wood insert manufactuer's specs for their requirements. Thank you for thinking safely and wanting to followup before doing something that is unsafe. Contact your building code inspector and contact your manufacturer of your insert. Be Safe!!!

Our plan is to go to our County Building and ask. I just was wondering if there was anything further I should know. Thanks for the responses!

how disappointing. County says we have to keep a distance of one foot from the heatilator. There's no way we can do it because the heatilator sits above the fireplace insert. A mantle would be too high on the wall.

thanks for the info.