Hearth sealant advisories?

[kristenjas]

Hey all, so I took the advice on this post and decided against the Taiwanese knockoff stove for our school bus conversion.

Ended up getting a used Englander 13-NC, and trying to decide on hearth options. Though we'll mostly be stationary, I'm thinking we should go for smaller stone or tile to minimize cracking as the bus travels. My husband suggested a penny floor. I actually really like the way they look, but my concern was whether the clear sealant most folks brush on them is safe for hearth use.

I'm having trouble finding info on this. Are there specific clear sealers - epoxy, polyurethane, etc - known to be suitable or unsuitable for hearth use?

 

[begreen]

The 13NC has high hearth insulation requirements far above just ember protection. You will either need to purchase a properly rated hearth or build one up out of micore and cement board to the required spec of R=2.0. The top layer should be tile or stone and not a sealed compound. Download the manual to cover hearth and clearance requirements for this stove.

 

[kristenjas]

begreen, I have the stove manual, and plan on building the hearth to R=2. Any feedback on these "fire-resistant" sealants? Like this Rutland product? (broken link removed to https://www.rutland.com/p/3/500f-rtv-high-heat-silicone-sealant)
I could just thinset & grout, and forgo sealing. I'm just looking for more professional input. These penny floor folk swear by sealant, but they're by and large artsy DIY types, not pros.