Building a Media Wall Around a Fireplace With Oak Floating Shelves

A media wall built around a built-in fireplace in a finished living room was completed over the course of a week by a carpenter. He used timber framing, MDF cladding, alcove units and oak-veneered floating shelves. He measured from his uprights and kept the existing skirting board in place, in case the owners ever remove the wall and want it put back.

Framing the wall

Before fixing any timber he took the skirting off to see where the cables were running. The timber went on with plenty of glue and plasterboard fixings. The wall is dot and dab, and he judged that going into the blockwork behind wasn't needed because these fixings carry downward force rather than shearing force. He then drove large screws through them.

The remaining studs were fixed with pocket holes. He says a nail gun tends to fly the studs out of place. The front timbers initially ran all the way down and were cut out later for the fireplace; he left them solid to keep everything square and true. He checked square and flatness on both sides, and had found the joists beforehand.

Sizing for the TV and fireplace

The top of the TV opening leaves room for a clock, and cubby holes or light-up shelves are possible. A laser across the front checked that the opening was square, since an out-of-square opening would look bad with the TV in. Supports at the back carry the fireplace, and extra timber gives the TV and fireplace something solid to sit on. The braces came out easily with a saw because the frame was true.

Fireplace and cladding

The fire goes in before the cladding, because the cladding goes over the lip on his fireplace, which is designed to be built in. He checked the front timber with a piece of 9 mm material so everything finished flush, avoiding big divots to fill. He used many pins and a tape measure so that none went into the fireplace. The MDF surround for the TV went on all four sides. He marked and cut the opening by hand rather than routing it, because router dust would spread through a finished house. No-nails adhesive and PVA went where the MDF pieces meet. A timber piece supports the TV, and the backing was two pieces because he had no single piece big enough.

Alcoves, shelves and finishing

The alcove units are simple boxes. The floating shelves start as ladder frames, with the back fixed into the blockwork with screws and plugs and the front piece added with two screws and glue each, pre-drilled to avoid splitting. They were clad in 6 mm oak-veneered MDF, glued with Sticks Like and clamped, with 45-degree joints so they look like solid oak. Lighting cables were run while he had access. He filled and sanded everything carefully because paint shows roughness. His dad helped with painting. Skirting that matches the existing board went round the front, and Shaker doors and handles were fitted last.