hearthpad

I think most folks build a frame from wood or metal 2 x 4's then put cement board on top of that, then tile of your choice. If your stove needs a big R value, you may need several layers of cement board or even micor.

First, check your manual for hearth requirements. You can make a pad out of anything non combustible like bricks, granite slabs, or soapstone. You either need to mortar the pieces together or put a sheet metal shield underneath so sparks can't go down between gaps. It needs a frame around the outside, which could be wood as long as it's not within the non combustible hearth area required by the stove. Check out Hearth Classics for really nicely made pads.

gonefishin, some stoves require nothing more than ember protection while others emit a great amount of heat at the bottom and require significant hearth construction. Thankfully, most of the newer EPA stoves are more friendly and require less r-protection that their ancestors though there are a few exceptions to that. Do what Wood Heat said and check your manual for required floor protection and side,back, and top clearances. Once you've determined the requirements then you can get some feedback on what you need. At the least state your stove some somebody can look it up on the internet. Also, don't forget your chimney/liner...there are clearances that must be considered there, too.

Best wishes,
Ed

As others have said . . . the hearth materials really vary from stove to stove . . . it all depends on the particular stove and the R value (insulation) value if required. Some stoves like my Jotul Oslo simply require ember protection which can be any material that is non-combustible . . . while other stoves require quite a bit more in terms of R value. It really truly depends on the stove . . . and in some cases the inspectors. Here in Bangor the Fire Inspector requires all woodstoves -- even those that only require ember protection -- to have some sort of listed hearth protection . . . it is his interpretation of the fire code . . .

If your stove only required ember protection and had no R value requirement and the inspector was OK with just following the manufacturer's installation requirements then a slab of granite, glass, soapstone or what have you would work . . . as long as it also met the required lengths and widths in terms of clearances.

I think the one thing I would want to keep in mind is to make sure whatever I use for my hearth has the proper underlayment to insure there is no chance of the heavy weight of the stone causing any flex or movement which could cause the slab to crack.

As for your question of soapstone . . . I can't recall any soapstone slabs . . . but one member did an incredibly beautiful hearth out of soapstone tile.