floor protection for Jotul F600 Firelight?

[fulksb]

Can someone please clear this up for me once and for all?

I am preparing to build hearth for new Jotul F600 Firelight. I am somewhat confused by the floor protection requirement in the product manual. The wording does not specify an R-value, but rather states that I need
"noncombustible material for protection from radiant heat, sparks, and embers."
The best I can tell, after searching this forum, is that this wording means I simply need to create the non-combustible floor (slate tile is my preference) with no need to worry about R-Value from products such as Durock. Please help me feel confident on this decision...

 

[pen]

Sounds like you have it figured out. Non-combustible is what you need.

I would still suggest putting down durock before the tile, not so much for the stove's requirement but for the tile's safety. Nothing more disappointing than a cracked tile.

Also, when building a hearth, it never hurts to go a bit 'big'. It may be 20 years down the road, but if you do it a little 'heavy' now, and decide to replace the stove someday, no reason not to have a hearth that could handle a variety of things that may have a slightly bigger requirement.

pen

 

[firefighterjake]

You've got it . . . but I would personally recommend the Durock as well.

A) A little extra protection never hurts and gives a lot of peace of mind for just a little bit extra work.
B) As Pen mentioned it will help prevent any flexing of the slate.
C) Down the road if you some day elect to get a woodstove that has a R value you might luck out and have the R-value in your hearth already . . . although this reason may be a bit weak admittedly since the R value is very dependent on the stove manufacturer

For the record, I too went with slate . . . two layers of plywood, layer of Durock and slate tile. No cracking. No issues. I just clean it and apply some sealant every Fall.

 

[Nick Mystic]

I have a Jotul F600 sitting on our brick hearth extension and I can tell you that there is very little heat coming out from the bottom of the stove. You have an ash pan down there and then a heat shield, so you can put your hand on the hearth under the stove and it's barely warm.

 

[fulksb]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your helpful replies!