Making my new hearth for the BK princess insert

i have that same trash can you have in the picture!

For whats its worth IMHO go with the maximum!

I'm remodeling my hearth and will extend the front a minimum of a one foot over the required 16".

After 2 years of 24/7 burning I think its a necessary (safe) precaution as hot coals can come out past the minimum....

The one thing you have going for you is the fact that the Blaze King has a deep firebox.

I will generally, as a rule of thumb over engineer stuff.... :cheese:

Good luck, Hiram

is there a certain reason your going with a insert vs a free standing stove? blaze kings are my favorite!

That looks really nice! :bug:

i cant wait to hear how well it performs, i might convert my fireplace to a bk insert too!

Still looks nice! :cheese:

I believe US code now requires 18" minimum to the front also.
Al

That will look nice. I did the same type of thing with my hearth but was using Micore and tile for the R value and ability to keep it flush. A picture can be seen in this thread.

Lanning said:

BurnerMM said:

That will look nice. I did the same type of thing with my hearth but was using Micore and tile for the R value and ability to keep it flush. A picture can be seen in this thread.

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I want a flush hearth like yours, because a raised hearth will be in the path way into the kitchen from the living room. What are your tiles made of? what size did you use? Very nice job. Looks so much better! I need to go look at tile.

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I made mine flush because of clearence to the wood mantle was only an inch plus and any higher and I'd have to modify quite a bit of work. I also like the flush look because it blends with the prior look. We do put a gate'esc type thing in front of it incase the kids fall near it because I think it presents a danger without it raised and within falling distance.

Back to your question, I can't remember the exact R value I needed but Micore 300 is 1.030 and then I put a layer of .25 cement board over top for the tile. Micore is not very sturdy but I had cement under most of it and the new sections I ended up reinforcing better than in the picture shown. The cement board is needed for the tile adhesion and I used regular 3x6 tile from HD with black grout. (16 bucks a box for the tile) Field tile is not technically for walking on and therefore I put a piece of plywood over it when putting the 400lb stove in, otherwise they'd crack. Since my wood floors were 3/4 inch think the hearth is nearly flush, maybe 1/8 higher but we're very happy with how it turned out.

Note, I also filled in the section without Micore with regular 1/2 inch cement board because they were out of range needed for protection and I could only find exactly the amount of Micore I needed.