[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":622},["ShallowReactive",2],{"item:\u002Fdiy\u002Fhow-to-create-a-renter-friendly-fireplace":3,"platform:site":297},{"id":4,"title":5,"aiRevisedAt":6,"authors":7,"body":12,"canonical":230,"category":231,"categorySlugs":239,"cid":240,"cover":241,"description":243,"extension":244,"featured":245,"language":246,"meta":247,"navigation":248,"noindex":245,"ogImage":249,"path":250,"publishedAt":251,"recipe":230,"related":252,"revisedAt":230,"seo":284,"seoDescription":243,"seoTitle":5,"sortKey":230,"sources":285,"stem":290,"tagSlugs":291,"tags":292,"translations":293,"type":294,"url":295,"__hash__":296},"platformItems\u002Fplatform\u002Fitems\u002F15532.md","DIY Guide: Turning a Mantel into a Rental-Friendly Fireplace","2026-10-10T03:27:49.000Z",[8],{"name":9,"slug":10,"role":11},"Jordan Lee","jordan-lee","author",{"type":13,"value":14,"toc":216},"minimark",[15,19,28,81,88,93,96,100,103,107,110,113,120,124,127,147,151,159,163,166,170,173,185,189,192,196,199,203,206,211],[16,17,18],"p",{},"During colder seasons, many people enjoy the idea of spending time around a fireplace with loved ones. 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Consider whether you want a landing area in front of the opening, and if so, how deep it should be. In this example, the opening was 3 feet by 3 feet, so the landing was designed to be 3 feet by 2 feet.",[89,104,106],{"id":105},"phase-3-size-and-cut-the-backerboard","Phase 3: Size and Cut the Backerboard",[16,108,109],{},"Cut the backerboard so it extends 3 inches beyond the fireplace opening (1 1\u002F2 inches on each side). Here, with an opening of 3 feet by 3 feet, the backerboard was trimmed to 3 feet and 3 inches by 3 feet and 3 inches. For the landing, the backerboard was cut to 3 feet by 2 feet and 3 inches (the additional 3 inches is meant to attach to the mantel's rear).",[16,111,112],{},"To cut the backerboard, moisten the intended cut line with a damp cloth. The backerboard features gridlines to help guide the cut. Once the line is wet, score it with a box cutter and then apply gentle pressure until it snaps along the seam. 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