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April 28, 2006
Reassemble Marble Mantle in pieces
Have a beautiful marble mantle that was saved from a Manhattan brownstone that was under a gut reno. Unfortunately it was removed in pieces. Any suggestions on who can re-assemble it and install? I have a photo of what it looked like originally assembled.
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I have this question too. I live in a two-family. The top unit has all four mantles. Our unit has no mantles. We've found pieces of ours in the backyard. We're interest in possibly reassembling.
Posted by: judson at April 28, 2006 4:23 PM
Try Maglione contracting @718 641 0303
Posted by: anon at April 28, 2006 6:05 PM
Giovanni is the man (646.772.3881)
Our fireplaces were painted. We didn't want chemicals in the house because we have a baby. He basically removed all of the fireplaces piece by piece, stripped the paint and reassemble them all perfectly.
They look incredible.
Posted by: Anonymous at April 28, 2006 7:14 PM
Did Giovanni tell you what he used to strip the marble? If so, would you share with this forum?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 28, 2006 11:21 PM
How much should it cost per fireplace to disassemble & reassemble?
Posted by: Anonymous at April 29, 2006 12:24 AM
You can strip marble with any chemical stripper. In some ways it's easier than wood. Best way - use a thick layer of stripper, like 1/2" - use Peel Away or one of the very thick stippers, even Rock Miracle, nothing runny. Press on a plastic dropcloth to hold it on, as well as keep in moisture, and leave for several hours.
Layers of paint (is there any other kind) can then be scraped off with a plastic scraper. Wash down with clean water. Apply more as needed.
For getting paint out of detail and cracks and crevices, use those green plastic pot scrubber sponges (you can get packs of 10 for $1 at any dollar store) Cut them up as needed, use with a knife or spatula to get into small spaces, also use chopsticks, toothpicks, old toothbrushes (also cheap at the dollar store), anything not metal.
When all paint is off (or as much as possible, or you can bear to do) make a poultice of baking soda and water, or use a commericial marble cleaner - most hardware/houseware places sell one, and clean marble. The poultice should be left to dry, and should draw out any paint color that has seeped into the marble.
Have fun. I stripped 4 of them - takes a weekend to really do one right, but is actually very satisfying to do it yourself, as you see the natural beauty of the marble coming out from under all of that paint.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at April 29, 2006 1:49 PM
CHP, A WEEKEND?! It took me a whole week to do one and I did 4 of them. Of course, I took alot of breaks. ; ) When are you coming over to help on my restoration?? That poultice thing didn't work well for me. I haven't tried the commercial stuff yet.
Anyway, we just used this guy to put one of the mantles back together and he was pretty good...Manuel Lasalle...917-292-1825. He's a "fireplace and chimney specialist".
Posted by: Yente at April 29, 2006 3:21 PM
hi call mr luis 646 703 1025
Posted by: luis arias at April 29, 2006 8:17 PM
Yente, I was motivated, they looked sooo bad. The top layer of paint on two was institutional green, and the other two were pink. I'm sure you know what colors I'm talking about - they must have been used in every brownstone in Bed Stuy. I think the city must have given it out for free. I also have the green paint right next to the wood on my oak woodwork in this house. This is not going to be that easy. Argh!
I'd love to come over, give me a holler, sometime.
Posted by: CrownHeightsProud at April 30, 2006 2:02 AM
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