Hearth pad top materials

[Ditchmonkey]

I have a Fireview coming this summer and I'm researching the hearth pad situation. I currently have one of those prefab concrete and flagstone pads that just sits on the floor. This will be both too small and not enough R-value to meet code so I'm trying to figure out what I want to do. One option I'm exploring is to make the current pad part of the newer, larger pad by adding a durock layer and putting the old pad on top of it. The question is - what do I use to fill the gaps around the edge of the pad to make up for the new, larger dimension pad.

One option is tile, but I don't think it will look very good contrasting the flagstones of the original pad. I ran across an interesting material called Claylin, which I would absolutely use if I was sure this material would meet code, but I am not sure. For reference: http://claylin.com/

Any other ideas on materials to fill the gaps? Concrete would work but I read that concrete counter tops are 1.5 " thick, and the width of the current hearth pad is just an inch or a bit less. Is 1 inch of concrete thick enough? It wont be holding the weight.

Thanks!

 

[begreen]

Other than size, are you sure the old pad is insufficient? The Fireview's pad requirement is not too stiff. All it requires is:
1) a layer of 24 gauge galvanized sheetmetal,
2) a 1/2 inch layer of an approved non-combustible insulation board (such as DUROCK cement board or WonderBoard Backer Board),
3) decorative non-combustible material such as tile, slate, stone or brick.

Perhaps consider building a nice surrounding frame the current board and provide the extension needed? It could be in black or a dark stone or tile to provide nice contrast or in a complementary stone color. To do this I would simply lay down a plywood base, a couple layers of durock and the tile or stone topping.

 

[Ditchmonkey]

Other than size, are you sure the old pad is insufficient? The Fireview's pad requirement is not too stiff. All it requires is:
1) a layer of 24 gauge galvanized sheetmetal,
2) a 1/2 inch layer of an approved non-combustible insulation board (such as DUROCK cement board or WonderBoard Backer Board),
3) decorative non-combustible material such as tile, slate, stone or brick.

Perhaps consider building a nice surrounding frame the current board and provide the extension needed? It could be in black or a dark stone or tile to provide nice contrast or in a complementary stone color. To do this I would simply lay down a plywood base, a couple layers of durock and the tile or stone topping.

Edit: the old pad doesn't have an insulating layer so the durock layer is going to be needed.

I'm going to call Woodstock. and double check the pad requirements. I was sure I read a specific R value somewhere before but now I can't find it. My initial thought was to add some additional flagstone around the current pad, but after looking around a bit I think I would have trouble finding anything that is a good match. I wonder how Woodstock (and more importantly the inspector) is going to determine "non-combustible material", and whether that Claylin material would qualify?

 

[begreen]

It's often easier to contrast than to try to match a border. What color is the current stone?

One inch of Durock NexGen will be R=.78. That exceeds the installation manual requirements. Should be fine.

 

[Ditchmonkey]

It's often easier to contrast than to try to match a border. What color is the current stone?

One inch of Durock NexGen will be R=.78. That exceeds the installation manual requirements. Should be fine.

Its a very dark flagstone - dark greys. Did you see the R value in the installation manual?

 

[begreen]

Not in the installation manual that I can see.

Sounds like a black or a pale grey slate tile might work for the border.