My Englander 17-VL calls for a 0.5 r-value for the noncombustible flooring under the stove. I'm installing the stove in a new sunroom that still has Trex-brand composite decking (gaps have been sealed and the decking stained with a stain made for composite, turned out pretty nice). I was going to cut out the decking from the area of the stove base, because my wife wants the "hearth" to be as low as possible. To get a 0.5 r-value, I plan to use 4 layers of 1/4" Hardibacker, covered with some kind of tile. This will only be around 1.5" tall so I think I'll just put it over the decking, to have it thick enough to put some kind of decorative trim around it.
To the question... Tonight my wife and I went to Lowes to look at tile options. Of everything there, my wife chose a product that is called "natural stone" tile that requires a sealant after installation. Because of the sealant, will this work as a stove base, or will the sealant tend to yellow from the heat, or get burn marks every time an ember lands on it. Am I right that a normal tile; porcelain or ceramic, etc. would be maintenance-free and would not be marked by hot embers? Is it normal to consider tile as an insulating stove base? The required R-value will come from the cement board, so whatever I put on top is just decorative and needs to be durable.
To the question... Tonight my wife and I went to Lowes to look at tile options. Of everything there, my wife chose a product that is called "natural stone" tile that requires a sealant after installation. Because of the sealant, will this work as a stove base, or will the sealant tend to yellow from the heat, or get burn marks every time an ember lands on it. Am I right that a normal tile; porcelain or ceramic, etc. would be maintenance-free and would not be marked by hot embers? Is it normal to consider tile as an insulating stove base? The required R-value will come from the cement board, so whatever I put on top is just decorative and needs to be durable.
