New hearth and Jotul Oslo

I Ordered a new blue/black f500 Oslo last week and acquired the building permit to get things rolling, so I figured as a wait for the stove to come in I would begin working on my hearth. This is my first wood stove and the first hearth I've built. The hearth consists of a 2x4 base, 3/4 plywood, 3/4 cement board and is topped with 1/2" 12x12 slate tiles. The only thing I have left is to cut and lay the top tiles, the front and sides were finished today. Hopefully next week I can update with pics of the stove set in place. Plan is to go up the wall behind the stove with some sort of rock, but that won't be until next year sometime. Anyhow, here are some pics until the stove arrives.

I have been warned about the ease of chipping of the slate tile, however I think it will be ok as long as I'm careful, or so I hope. To late now anyway lol. The purpose of the shims was just to hold the slate evenly up off the hardwood floor for install. After the mortar set the shims were removed leaving an even 1/4" gap along the bottom.

A little update. Finally finished up the hearth and got the Oslo set in place today. That stove absolutely sucks to move. Tomorrow I will be installing the chimney and look forward to some wood heat finally.

Finished everything up today and lit the first break in fire. All seems good and actually went pretty smooth. I tried to edit the pics so hopefully they post straight. Chimney is 16.5' and didn't seem to have an issue with draft, atleast as of yet. Chimney goes up 24" and vents through the wall. Definetly wish I thought to remove some weight, but it could have been worst of we didn't have the power stair climber.