Custom wood mantels from a home workshop

Homeowners renovating a living room, interior designers, renovators and small builders who want something better than a stock mantel.

A fixed price per piece, based on materials, finish and hours. Pieces are quoted individually, and deposits cover materials before you start.

• Woodworking and finishing
• Measuring and drawing simple plans
• Quoting and customer communication

• Clearance to combustibles: mantels near a wood-burning or gas unit must follow the fireplace maker's instructions and the building code, so check before you design
• Home-based business rules and zoning in your municipality, including noise and dust limits
• Commercial general liability and product liability insurance, since a mantel is part of a heat source
• Wood dust and finishing fumes, so plan for dust collection, ventilation and a fire-safe workshop
• Check whether you need to register for GST/HST once your revenue passes the small supplier threshold

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $3,000 to $12,000, depending on the tools, dust collection and materials you already have. Plan for ventilation and a fire-safe workshop for finishing.

Monthly revenue is estimated at typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many mantels you build, your pricing and the hours you work. Customers include homeowners, designers and small builders.

Check clearance to combustibles against the fireplace maker's instructions and the building code before designing. Also check home-based business and zoning rules, noise and dust limits, liability and product liability insurance, and GST/HST registration once revenue passes the small supplier threshold.