Solid wood. Didn't take too long to install. Only the top of the mantel was tight and could possibly use caulk. Great fireplace for atmosphere only. Don't depend too much for heat, although it does work well. Many nice features. The instructions are mainly by design without verbiage. Don't make the same mistake we did by putting the backboard to the shelf area backwards. The non painted side goes outward. We have a 55" TV and it fits perfectly. It is pretty heavy. Best to install with 2 people to make it go faster. Took my wife and I about 60-90 minutes, but we weren't racing.