I was really shocked at the quality of this mantel. For the price I expected something about one step up from what the contractor installed, but I was wrong. The construction was wood, not MDF, and every joint was perfect. Although this mantel was made with the intention of painting, the quality of the wood was so good I decided to stain it. You can also purchase this as a finished product if you don't want to finish it yourself. Mounting was by cleat board so you didn't have to worry about hanging this with all the weight. Once the cleat is mounted and level, all you had to do was hook the mantel on the cleat board. There was also enough space to adjust the mantel left and right to ensure it is exactly centered over your fireplace. Wayfair made the process of purchasing super easy and it arrived in just a few days from the order. If you are planning to replace or add a mantel, I can't recommend this highly enough. Anyone purchasing this mantel will certainly not be disappointed.