When I acquired my home in Shingletown, one of the first jobs was replacing the obsolete, used up, burned out monster wood stove. I bought a new Buck Model 81 (for financial reasons) and prepared to install it. The old hearth was too small (not enough hearth in front of the stove door to meet code) and was damaged with many of the tiles cracked or broken. I was going to make the new hearth myself (also for financial reasons) and considered numerous options, including tile, brick and concrete. While considering these options, the words of an old employer replayed in my head; "Go with what you know." Being a recovering machinist, metal is what I know. I drew up my new hearth on AutoCad and faxed it to my favorite steel supplier.
Here's a picture of the finished installation.
I had it sheared from 1/4 in. hot-rolled steel plate (no rust, with the hot-rolled mill scale intact), with all the shearing done from the top side (to create rolled edges).
I cut 1/4 in. Hardiebacker to match the steel plate, then screwed it to the 2x6 T&G subfloor. Using construction adhesive, I glued the steel to the Hardiebacker.
This installation came to the same thickness of the flooring I would be installing. My hearth is flush with the floor, making vacuuming easy, and practically indestructible.
I have split kindling on it and used it for an anvil to set rivets and straighten metal pieces. It had some irregular stains in the mill scale when I got it, and I've added a few more by putting wet snowshoes with aluminum claws on it, but they just add character, there is no rust.
Note the basket of all-natural fire starters to the right.
If you want an indestructible, lifetime hearth, use steel.
Here's a picture of the finished installation.
I had it sheared from 1/4 in. hot-rolled steel plate (no rust, with the hot-rolled mill scale intact), with all the shearing done from the top side (to create rolled edges).
I cut 1/4 in. Hardiebacker to match the steel plate, then screwed it to the 2x6 T&G subfloor. Using construction adhesive, I glued the steel to the Hardiebacker.
This installation came to the same thickness of the flooring I would be installing. My hearth is flush with the floor, making vacuuming easy, and practically indestructible.
I have split kindling on it and used it for an anvil to set rivets and straighten metal pieces. It had some irregular stains in the mill scale when I got it, and I've added a few more by putting wet snowshoes with aluminum claws on it, but they just add character, there is no rust.
Note the basket of all-natural fire starters to the right.
If you want an indestructible, lifetime hearth, use steel.
