Building hearth pad

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
  • Hope everyone has a wonderful and warm Thanksgiving!
  • Super Cedar firestarters 30% discount Use code Hearth2024 Click here

Build a hearth pad?

  • Buy

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Build

    Votes: 8 100.0%
  • Total voters
    8
Status
Not open for further replies.
Kosmonauts

Kosmonauts

Member
Jan 15, 2016
220
Pennsylvania
putting in my first wood stove and was looking at hearth pads. Wow are they expensive. I'm really leaning toward building my own so it looks as nice as possibly and I trust it because it's my own work. Anyone build their own (I'm sure!) and if so how did you guys do it? Or should I just buy the 500$ ones I have been seeing that don't look Excactly like how I want. Thanks you guys!
 
You'll find that most people on here have made their own hearth pads. It's cheaper, fully customizable, and it's much closer to the finish height of your existing flooring.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kosmonauts
If you have time and the skill then build it. If you are trying to squeeze this in between a full time job and weekend lawn mowing, then maybe getting a pre-made one is a better option. There are lots of examples of home build hearth pads here. Just be sure it meets or exceeds the insulation requirements for the stove.
 
begreen said:
If you have time and the skill build it. If you are trying to squeeze this in between a full time job and weekend lawn mowing, then maybe getting a pre-made one is a better option. There are lots of examples of home build hearth pads here. Just be sure it meets or exceeds the insulation requirements for the stove.
Click to expand...
Thanks fellas. Family and myself could most certainly do it and I do have all summer so...
 
Go big. The usa spec of 16" in front of the door opening is about useless. Canada spec i think is 18". I am at 22" now with enough carpet burns to know my next hearth will be up around 40" or so front clearance. Nice warm place to stand when my feet are cold too.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bag of hammers and Kosmonauts
Build.

Cheaper.
You can build exactly what you want with the size, shape, height and materials so it will not just meet your needs, but exceed those needs.
The satisfaction in looking over and seeing the hearth that you built cannot be beat.

Building a quality hearth can be done by just about anyone. If you're just building the hearth and nothing on the wall it make take up to a weekend or two depending on how fancy you get. Basic tools are all that are required, although renting or borrowing a tile saw from a friend definitely helps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kosmonauts and CenterTree
firefighterjake said:
Build.

Cheaper.
You can build exactly what you want with the size, shape, height and materials so it will not just meet your needs, but exceed those needs.
The satisfaction in looking over and seeing the hearth that you built cannot be beat.

Building a quality hearth can be done by just about anyone. If you're just building the hearth and nothing on the wall it make take up to a weekend or two depending on how fancy you get. Basic tools are all that are required, although renting or borrowing a tile saw from a friend definitely helps.
Click to expand...
If you don't mind me asking...what Excactly goes underneath the tile? I'm sure everyone does it different but I'm trying to see how a few of you guys did yours. And definetely gonna build it bigger than what I need, nothing on the wall just a nice sized pad
 
Dura-Rock or hardy backer cement board. You will set the cement board into a thinset bed and screw it on a 4"x4" grid. They have screws specially designed for the board you choose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kosmonauts
I did both of my hearths, and many others. My family room hearth usually confuses people. When I first posted it on here everyone blew me up thinking it was wood...
 

Attachments

  • [Hearth.com] Building hearth pad
    image.webp
    193.7 KB · Views: 677
  • Like
Reactions: firefighterjake and Kosmonauts
just remember that if you build it yourself or have someone do it make sure that it meets the R rating for what ever stove you are installing. for some this can be ember protection only for others it can be an R value of 2 or more. also my personal preference is to raise it up some, a little easier to load, better fire show.
 
Kosmonauts said:
If you don't mind me asking...what Excactly goes underneath the tile? I'm sure everyone does it different but I'm trying to see how a few of you guys did yours. And definetely gonna build it bigger than what I need, nothing on the wall just a nice sized pad
Click to expand...

In my case I went with plywood followed by two layers of Durock. I only needed ember protection but liked the idea of building in a little extra r value protection ... plus it stiffened things up which reduces the possibility of broken tile or stone.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kosmonauts
Check out my thread, NC-13 Install. Do a search. I haven't updated in a bit, but I'm working on tiling the hearth now. I'm no expert, not even close haha. But it may help to see what I've done so far. I'm just building it based on ideas I've seen online.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kosmonauts
I need to make one too.

I wanted to ask without hijacking the thread to much... Should I cut my carpet and recess my pad or can I just sit it on top? I have concrete under the carpet I wish I had etched concrete floors but I guess the previous owners wanted carpet.
 
Gotrek said:
I need to make one too.

I wanted to ask without hijacking the thread to much... Should I cut my carpet and recess my pad or can I just sit it on top? I have concrete under the carpet I wish I had etched concrete floors but I guess the previous owners wanted carpet.
Click to expand...

What is the R-rating requirement for the hearth for your stove?

Regardless, cut the carpet. Don't cut corners with safety with wood stoves. Please don't.

Thanks,
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
How to build a half-round corner hearth pad
Replies
13
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
SasWalk
S
M
Tile resources for diy hearth pad
Replies
6
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Maureen B.
M
R
Raised fireplace conundrum with PE Summit LE insert
Replies
7
Views
218
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Trevor Tahclep
Trevor Tahclep
S
New flooring or no woodstove?
Replies
1
Views
186
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
B
Metal open cooking hearth?
Replies
79
Views
894
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
bark-eater
B
Top Bottom