This is the stove I put in yesterday. I built the hearth out of bluestone on top of cement board and 3/4 plywood. Right now t he stone over hangs the board and I have not decided how to finish the edge. To me it is fine the way it is. The stove is in the corner of my house and vents out from behind the stove. Of course now the wife wants to repaint and basically redo the whole house...but in the mean time its toasty warm here in this room. (my computer room is where the stove is located)