ok so i'm trying to coordinate the install of a wood burning insert and taking advantage of the tax credit ending dec 31st. After talking to my dealers it looks like i'm on my own for making sure i'm setup w/in the insert's min clearances and they just show up with the stove & liner and slap it in.
My issue is that i have no idea what the r-value of my existing hearth is and i'm pretty sure it's not enough. it's ceramic tile and what looks to be some sort of cement board underneath that's at least 1/2" thick. I've called a bunch of masonry places but not having much luck finding anyone who can do the job before the end of the year so i've got a plan to do it myself. i think i've talked myself into thinking it won't be that tough so if i'm missing something please set me straight cause i don't want to f this up.
we're leaning towards the clydesdale insert btw which requires the hearth to be 18" from the faceplate and have an r-value of 1.0. existing hearth is 18" deep so i'll use the same dimensions.
my plan is to remove existing tiles and put two courses of 2.25" bricks with 3/8" mortar (to match existing fireplace) then top with a ceramic tile. by my calculations that gives me r-value of 1.15 + whatever the board under the existing tiles is rated for. i have a bunch of matching bricks that were in the attic when we bought the house that i plan to use.
The second part of the equation is also building up the floor of the firebox to match the height of the hearth. I assume the bricks on the bottom of the firebox are firebricks and my plan is to remove them (most are already loose), lay 2 courses of 2.25" bricks with some mortar to hold them in place and put the firebricks on top. since the firebox slopes inward as it goes back i'm thinking i'll just chip away at a few bricks with a hammer chisel to make a pretty good fit and just mortar in the gaps.
the third part is removing the bricks in the back of the firebox that make it slope forward as it goes up. a bunch are falling out already so i don't anticipate any issues there. i'm hoping that there will be continuous firebricks behind the angled bricks that make up the back wall after i remove them. If there aren't i'll just pickup a few firebricks and mortar them in the back.
sounds easy enough right? a trip to the store to pickup some motar, tiles and thinset and i'll be ready for a day of fun.
My issue is that i have no idea what the r-value of my existing hearth is and i'm pretty sure it's not enough. it's ceramic tile and what looks to be some sort of cement board underneath that's at least 1/2" thick. I've called a bunch of masonry places but not having much luck finding anyone who can do the job before the end of the year so i've got a plan to do it myself. i think i've talked myself into thinking it won't be that tough so if i'm missing something please set me straight cause i don't want to f this up.
we're leaning towards the clydesdale insert btw which requires the hearth to be 18" from the faceplate and have an r-value of 1.0. existing hearth is 18" deep so i'll use the same dimensions.
my plan is to remove existing tiles and put two courses of 2.25" bricks with 3/8" mortar (to match existing fireplace) then top with a ceramic tile. by my calculations that gives me r-value of 1.15 + whatever the board under the existing tiles is rated for. i have a bunch of matching bricks that were in the attic when we bought the house that i plan to use.
The second part of the equation is also building up the floor of the firebox to match the height of the hearth. I assume the bricks on the bottom of the firebox are firebricks and my plan is to remove them (most are already loose), lay 2 courses of 2.25" bricks with some mortar to hold them in place and put the firebricks on top. since the firebox slopes inward as it goes back i'm thinking i'll just chip away at a few bricks with a hammer chisel to make a pretty good fit and just mortar in the gaps.
the third part is removing the bricks in the back of the firebox that make it slope forward as it goes up. a bunch are falling out already so i don't anticipate any issues there. i'm hoping that there will be continuous firebricks behind the angled bricks that make up the back wall after i remove them. If there aren't i'll just pickup a few firebricks and mortar them in the back.
sounds easy enough right? a trip to the store to pickup some motar, tiles and thinset and i'll be ready for a day of fun.
