Hearth build

Ideal Steel is on order, looks like mid to late August for pick up date. Guess I better get started on a hearth pretty soon! We'd like to be at about 12" finished height to minimize time spent on the floor loading and handling ash. The "backsplash" will be manufactured stacked stone I believe, still considering what to do for the hearth pad itself. Mrs Papi would like a raised area to one side of the stove for seating and decoration, so it will require an elevation change. Should be an interesting framing job.

Looking online at stone and tile options, I'm wondering where everyone who has posted their great hearth pictures on FHC sourced their materials? Anyone care to offer some pics of their setup and where you came by your materials? If price were no object I'd run up the road and get some genuine Goshen stone. Unfortunately with the price of the stove and chimney, plus a huge tree job I've got to get done before winter, we're on more of a Home Depot budget!

 

What style stone do you want??
River stone, slate or stacked look.. I think 16" high would be safer..

 

Home Depot budget should be fine. If you can scrounge lumber and screws, then most of your cost will be for the surround stone, hearth surface, and mortar.
I’ve personally done two and helped with others. Here’s my basement hearth:

Back stone was honey ledger from Home Depot. This stone was thinner than my other hearth and easier to deal with (more on that later).
Tile was from HD or Lowe’s.
Plan on renting or borrowing a tile saw if you don’t have one- it cuts stacked stone, too.

 

I’m far from an expert but do have one build thread on here for the Liberty:
Lopi Liberty Basement Install
I don’t have a thread on my upstairs stove—- that was more conventional with a drywall wall behind the stove.

 

Plan on-
Cement board. Durock if you have tight clearances... think “what’s combustible?” and plan from there.
Mortar/thinset (type depends on your stone choice).
Lath if you’re going with heavier stone.
Air gap if clearances are tight.
Tile saw rental or other plan.
Cement board screws.
Mantle plan before ya start (especially if she wants a big mantle).
Lumber/screws/plywood (had 3/4” flooring laying around for mine)
R value -shouldn’t matter but both of mine are above just “ember protection” in case we changed stoves.

Scotty has a legendary thread on here for one of his stoves. Check that out if ya can.

 

I'm thinking about doing a hearth. I will be this thread for sure!

 

We're looking at a slightly smoothed stacked stone for vertical surfaces, pad is still under hot debate.

We were thinking 16, but with the large vertical dimension of this stove, I was worried it would set too high against the wall. We'll definitely have another look before getting into it.

Thanks for the advice and especially the pictures! Buckthorn, your stacked stone is what we're looking at almost to a tee, very helpful to see it in action. Thanks!

 

Mine is not 16" until I rebuild it. As my knees are ageing its on short list. Easier to load and get to ash pan door... I have an IS, and would be happy to take measurements.. Only problem, I could see about being too high is it might be hard to get the cat out if you're extremely short.

Or distance to thimble but you could go out the back and up..

 

IS can come out top or rear vent.. So there are option if you want a taller hearth..

 

I'm decent height, but ceilings are 8' so I'll have to have a chat with the fire chief next time I drop my daughter off at the station, as well as consulting the insurance company. We do plan to go straight through the wall to keep the 90s limited to one. Here's a question.. When going out the wall with a tight clearance (rated to 6" with heat shield) do most folks still run a probe in the stovepipe?

My wife's knees are shot through with arthritis and get pretty immobile sometimes, which was our first thought in considering a raised hearth - we will make the final decision based mostly upon her comfort while staying in code, if there is one that applies.

 

We're you short on the recommended height, or on roof line clearance? My insurance company is pretty lazy with inspections so I don't expect them to get on a ladder.. Unless God forbid we ever made a claim regarding the stove or chimney.

 

stacked stone walls with natural slate for the hearth pad and stacked stone for the hearth face...........................16" high..................buy a tile saw off of CL use it and resell it or keep it for future use.

 

Bought one for our last tiling project at the old house, thankfully kept it when we moved! Slate may be the way to go.

 

IIRC Home Depot, around a buck a SQ/FT

 

Negative.. 96" ceiling minus 33" stove minus 16" hearth = 45". The IS is 30.5-35.5” depending on leg height setting. Pretty tall stove.