VC Montpelier - Before & After

I did not like the install on the Vermont Castings Montpelier in my LR/DR so when I used it I did not push it hard. While the installation appeared to follow the guidelines, something was not right. I finally finished all the emergency jobs that a new house brings and had a few moment to look it it. The hearth was the required 18 inches from the door but just barely. I,m not sure what the R value was but probably not the 1.49 specified by VC. I opened the ceiling below and found about 5.5 inches of poured concrete covered with 1/4 inch tiles surrounded by a wood frame. Even though it never got hot, the wood mantel was definitely too close to the top of the stove.

Time for a rebuild. The hearth was covered with two 1/2 inch sheets of mineral fiber board that extended it to 25.5 inches out from the stove. It was not Micore but the UL data sheet gave it an R rating 1.1/inch. Each fiber board sheet was covered with a sheet of 22 gauge steel. On top of that 1/2 inch durock and 6x6 1/2 inch slate tiles. The mantel was raised with 12 inch cement blocks covered in slate tiles. The old wood studs above the fireplace were replaced with metal, durock hung on them and then covered with the same 6x6 1/2 inch slate tiles.

There are two things left to do, frame the new hearth with 2x2 oak trim and get a new TV so the entertainment center on the right can be eliminated.