You can't really see it in this picture but the stone beneath the mantle is a full veneer stone and the stone above the mantle is a thin veneer stone (same product but different thicknesses). So there is a stone "ledge" that helps support the mantle and we also drilled and installed iron supports into the stone wall and the back of the mantle to hold in in place. I suggest you to speak to a mason about that process. If you are installing on an existing stone fireplace you could potentially add stone or wood corbels beneath the mantle for support. Your mason and/or contractor should be able to advise you on the best approach for your fireplace. Good luck..