I wanted to know if anyone has plans for a raised hearth for my Englander 30. I would like to not have to bend down as much. However, if the task is too large I might just get use to kneeling then.
Raised Hearth
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cableman
Minister of Fire
I don't have that stove but what is the stove sitting on now? Is the under structure concrete slab or wood framing?
I am thinking about making the hearth about 2 to 3 inches high. I was wondering that since I need an r value of 1.5 for the englander 30. How many durock cement boards would I need from lowes? Is there an official value somewhere on there website that shows the r value for this material? Are there a certain kind I should get. Then, I was going to put tile on top of the cement boards and grout it together. However, since winter is approaching fast for me can I use the stove for one year on just the stack of cement boards it will look rough but I can finish the grout next summer when I have the time and income.
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
Here's a table of r values for typical hearth materials. Not comprehensive material list, but on point.
(broken link removed to http://chimneysweeponline.com/horvalue.htm)
I'd love to have a raised hearth. As long as you need to incorporate an r value, you may as well build it up to a suitable height. I often wish I had, especially when my knees creak.
Do a search on here for raised hearths. You may get some ideas. It shouldn't be hard to frame up a few inches.
How do I know that the 1/2 inch durorock cement board at lowes is 0.39 like the link says? Also what is the difference between the next gen and the 1/2 inch durorock at lowes?
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
This recent thread may help you. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/new-hearth-build.109188/
I've heard that the original Durock is no longer available, so what Lowe's has is likely the NexGen. Some discussion about Durock starts at post #50 on the above thread. Looks like maybe Durock NexGen won't work anyway if it is not rated for hearth use.
I've heard that the original Durock is no longer available, so what Lowe's has is likely the NexGen. Some discussion about Durock starts at post #50 on the above thread. Looks like maybe Durock NexGen won't work anyway if it is not rated for hearth use.
Mine is sitting on a hearth made of 8x8x16 cinder blocks. The blocks outline the hearth then there are cinder blocks in the center. On top and the sides have to layers durorock the it is tiled. I find this to be a very nice height for loading wood and sitting on the hearth watching the fire.
How can you tell if it is rated for hearth use? I want to stack it and not tile it for this winter so I wnat to make sure I do it right.
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Sprinter
Minister of Fire
As I understand it, the original Durock was approved for hearth use, but the Nexgen stuff has perlite in it to lighten it, but it lost it's hearth approval. The original stuff is no longer produced. You may want to contact the manufacturer, but it looks like Durock may not be a solution for you.
You could take a look at Micore, but It seems to be hard to find and expensive.
When I was at lowes and at lowes.com the red stuff is the regular durorock and the blue stuff is the next gen my lowes has the old regular stuff. So this is hearth approved? How can I be sure is there an ansi code or something?
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
Here's another article that may be helpful: https://www.hearth.com/econtent/index.php/articles/hearth_design
Sprinter
Minister of Fire
Well, you'd want to check with Lowes or the manufacturer to be sure. Maybe it's new old stock, or maybe they're even making it again. I don't know.
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NectarNook
Member
I'm building mine right now. Just got the frame all drywalled in today. I was looking for similar advice, so I'll be keeping an eye on this thread.
The blocks are not mortared together but the blocks next to the wall (coner install) are screwed to the wall and the durorock is mortared the blocks.
That depends on the stove requirements. The answer is sort of yes. But how many layers of cement board depends on the stove requirements and the r value of the cement board.
How high do you want to raise the hearth?
Nick Mystic
Minister of Fire
Before you get too far into your project be sure you are going to have enough clearance between the top of your stove and the ceiling above it if the ceiling has combustible members in it. My stoves have mostly been in rooms with cathedral ceilings, so I haven't had to pay attention to height clearances. However, I can recall people posting here explaining how they had to install heat shields on their ceilings in some basements because the ceiling was too low. So I would guess a stove on a hearth over two feet tall would be too close to the ceiling of a standard 8' tall ceiling.
Holiday
Burning Hunk
If you're only looking for a few inches this is how I did mine to give you an idea. Down around post 10
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/pic-of-the-mostly-finished-hearth-finally.109322/#post-1446293
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/pic-of-the-mostly-finished-hearth-finally.109322/#post-1446293
Originally i put it up on one course of cement blocks cuz if you set it directly on the floor, you practically need to lay on the floor to get an eye level view of the fire. At 8" high it still was too low so i put another course of blocks under it to make it 16" off the floor. Although it still looks a bit low its acceptable. I have 2 englander 30s in 2 different locations,workshop and project house ,both with 2 courses of block under them. IF i were installing it in my living room id build a 16" OR HIGHER hearth base under it.
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Sprinter
Minister of Fire
My comments on NexGen Durock may have been wrong. There was discussion a while back about it that said that the NexGen material was not approved for hearth, but now I hear that it is. You may want to verify that, but if it is, then the NexGen would be the preferred material.
Our Homestead is currently on a Raised Hearth. By the time I got done sandwiching layers of Durarock, Micore boards &
ceramic tiling, our stove is sitting 6+" above the floor (started w/ 2 x 4's) - looks nice & easier to load.
ceramic tiling, our stove is sitting 6+" above the floor (started w/ 2 x 4's) - looks nice & easier to load.
From one of the posters on here they put the cement board on steel. Can I lay it just on my carpeted floor or no?
From what I've read that is not advised. Besides, a single layer of cement board would be insufficient insulation for this stove. Plan on at least screwing down multiple layers of cement board to a plywood backer board. If not tiled I would put some protectors under the feet to spread the weight. Something like 1/8" x 2" x 2" metal squares would work.
Yes, you can lay your properly built hearth pad right on top of carpet.
You do not need to remove the carpet. The carpet will of course be ruined due to being smashed but it would also be ruined if you tried to cut it out.
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