We are remodeling our kitchen and our wood stove happens to be in it! It is an old Timberline (30" square) and is our primary heat source through the winter. It currently sits on brick with brick on the back wall and side wall. We wanted to replace the brick with slate tile, but our contractor said he thinks that the constant heating and cooling (expanding & contracting) will effect the grout and slate where it will chip off and may lose integrity. He thought maybe a dry stacked stone. This is confusing because I see pictures all the time of wood stoves with slate tile. What is safe to use for a wood stove surround? Is slate tile (or any tile) not a good idea to use?