Do you need a raised hearth for a wood burning stove?
Because the hearth is meant to protect your home from a fire’s intense heat, it must be a certain thickness. If a renovation includes adding a wood burning fireplace or wood burning stove, a raised hearth platform may be your best solution. If you’re installing an electric stove, a hearth is not required.
What is a hearth in a wood stove made of?
A hearth is a place in front of a fireplace or a wood stove that is made from stone, brick, tile, or other noncombustible materials and prevents the surrounding floor area to catch fire from stray embers. They function as a barrier between the floor and fire for fireplaces and wood stoves. What materials can be used as a heart in a wood stove?
Does an airtight stove need a hearth?
An airtight stove does not need a hearth or floor protection underneath it as they have a tightly sealed combustion chamber that keeps high heat from escaping up through the flue. Does A Wood Burning Stove Need A Hearth? A wood-burning stove can be a great addition to your home, but you may wonder if it needs one.
Can I use a hearth within an existing open fireplace?
A hearth within an existing open fireplace can be used in many cases as long as it satisfies the requirements for size and depth, or a hearth pad can be used if installing a wood stove elsewhere in a home.
Is a hearth required for a wood stove?
Is a hearth necessary for a log burner or stove? If you have any solid fuel burning stove, it is absolutely vital that you have the correct hearth for it to sit on. Building regulations state that a non-combustible material must cover a set area around your stove.
Can you have a wood burning fireplace without a hearth?
A hearth is typically found with traditional open fireplaces but isn't found with some other types of fireplaces, so do you need a hearth for your fireplace? A fireplace hearth is a necessity for all solid fuel burning fireplaces, including wood burning fireplaces and stoves.
What can be used as a hearth for a wood burning stove?
A hearth needs to separate the open flame from your furnishings and combustibles. The best materials to use as a hearthstone for a wood-burning stove are: Stone or Granite. Slate.
Can you have a fire without a hearth?
Therefore, if your home is fitted with a modern gas fire, you can forego the hearth, and have a wood, composite or laminate floor go right up to the base, unless the manufacturer's installation requirements ask otherwise.
Can a hearth be flush with the floor?
A flush hearth is level with the floor. Most fireplaces have flush hearths. A flush hearth uses fewer materials than a raised hearth and is less expensive to build than a raised hearth. It also saves you more space.
Can you put a wood stove on a concrete floor?
This is why placement of a wood stove is so important, and why simply setting it on or next to a noncombustible surface, such as concrete or brick, may not be enough: It can still conduct heat to the surface beneath, and that surface may burn.
What material can be used as a hearth?
Stone, brick, cement, or fire-rated drywall finish are the go-to materials for making fireplace hearths durable and fireproof. They're also fairly adaptable when it comes to design: They can be left as they are or painted to match surrounding elements in a room.
How do you build a hearth for a wood stove?
0:514:44How to Build a Wood Stove Hearth - Framing a Hearth - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMaking sure the two boards are square and symmetrical screw the ends together using four inchMoreMaking sure the two boards are square and symmetrical screw the ends together using four inch exterior screws slide into place and secure it by screwing it into the wall studs and the bottom plate.
What can I use to make a hearth?
The Top Three Materials to Use for HearthsGranite. As mentioned earlier, granite is a great mid-priced material for hearth construction. ... Concrete. Concrete is a popular choice for hearths due to its adaptability and safety. ... Marble. Marble is another great choice for a hearth.
Is it necessary to have a hearth?
However, the hearth is still an essential feature for any home with a fireplace installed. A fireplace hearth serves purposes such as: Protecting the floor directly in front of your fireplace.
Do all fireplaces need a hearth?
Do Gas and Electric Fireplaces Need a Hearth? While glass front gas fires do still require a hearth, electric fireplaces do not have as many requirements. In fact, most electric fires don't require a hearth at all! Nevertheless, hearths remain popular even when they are not strictly necessary.
How big does a hearth have to be for a wood stove?
Generally, the minimum hearth size for a wood burning stove is 150mm on either side of the stove and at least 840mm by 840mm for freestanding stoves. Your hearth will also need to be deep enough to prevent accidents. The minimum hearth depth for a wood burner is 300mm.
What is the point of a hearth?
Hearths serve a very important purpose as well as visually draw attention to the fireplace one of the key focal points in the room setting. Hearths essentially were created to serve a purpose rather than strictly as decoration. They make the fireplace area a safe place and also prevent fire hazards.
What is needed for a wood burning fireplace?
Essentially, a standard, wood-burning fireplace comprises a hearth (which is basically the floor in front of the fireplace), the firebox (where the wood burns), the damper (the lever that opens and closes the flue) and the smoke chamber and flue (where the smoke is drawn up and out).
Do you need a hearth pad?
All wood, pellet, coal and corn stoves require a hearth protector. Most require only protection from falling embers. But some stoves produce enough heat directed down and forward that a Type 1 – Ember Protector won't stop the heat from passing through to the floor beneath the stove.
Do wood stoves need a base?
All wood stoves will require a sufficiently sized hearth. The body of a wood stove is designed to get very hot and a hearth provides a barrier between a stove and the floor of a home.
Does a wood-burning stove need a hearth?
A hearth is generally used to protect the floor from hot embers and sparks that may come out of a wood stove. A thin sheet of tempered glass or cer...
Is it safe to use my existing firebox?
Yes! The majority of today’s model stoves are designed with an airtight door (also known as draft control) which allows complete combustion inside...
What are the benefits of a steel stove vs. cast iron?
Steel stoves have faster heat-up times, higher BTU output, and better fuel efficiency compared to their heavier counterparts. They’re also more aff...
Will my wood-burning stove need a chimney?
In order for your stove to work properly, you will need a flue pipe connecting the unit and terminating outside of your house in a safe area. Chimn...
Can I install my own wood-burning stove?
In most cases yes! Installation can vary from product to product but it's generally no more complicated than assembling any piece of furniture that...
Where should I install my wood-burning stove?
The majority of stoves can be installed in any room throughout your home; the basement, living room, kitchen, or bedroom is all fine depending on t...
What is the best material to use for a hearth?
Slabbed granite is often touted as the best hearth material for wood-burning fires. Slabbed granite has been cut into smaller pieces and mounted in...
How thick does a hearth pad need to be?
Building codes may vary by location, but most require a hearth pad to be at least 4 inches thick. It must also be made of a non-combustible materia...
What is the difference between a pellet stove and a wood stove?
A wood pellet stove and a wood burning stove look similar but use different types of fuel. Wood pellets burn cleaner than wood logs. Additionally,...
What is a wood stove hearth?
The body of a wood stove is designed to get very hot and a hearth provides a barrier between a stove and the floor of a home. The required size of a hearth will be dictated by your local and national building regulations, but a hearth must extend a certain distance away from a stove.
Why do stoves need to be positioned on a hearth?
A stove also needs to be positioned on a hearth so that there is sufficient distance between the stove and any surrounding non-combustible materials . Required offset distances to combustible materials typically require further offset distances. A hearth also needs to be of sufficient depth to provide the right amount of space between a stove ...
What is the NASD for a wood burning stove?
The NASD provides details on clearances and requirements for a hearth when installing a wood burning stove. If you’re in the in the UK you can find what size of hearth is required and offset distances for wood stoves in Part J of the Building Regulations.
How do hearth pads work?
Hearth pads work just like a real hearth and help to protect the floor of your home, but can be placed and removed more easily. Hearth pads also come in a range of sizes and styles to suit the location of a stove in your home. You can find the complete range of hearth pads available here.
How much does a multi fuel stove weigh?
Stoves can also be very heavy. Our multi fuel stove weights over 270lbs (120kg) and so a hearth must also be able to cope with the weight of a stove.
Where is the hearth located in a wood burning fireplace?
With traditional open wood burning fireplaces you’ll typically find a hearth located at the base of the fireplace , which helps to provide a barrier between the heat of an open fire and the floor of your home.
Do you need a hearth for a wood burning stove?
A hearth must be sufficiently sized and deep to provide a safe barrier between the floor of your home and a stove, for the hearth to extend a certain distance away from each side of a stove, and for the stove to be a safe distance away from any nearby combustible ...
Why do you need a hearth on a wood stove?
When you buy a wood burning stove or multi fuel stove, not only do you want to protect it but you’ll also want to look after the space around it, particularly your flooring . This is why you’ll need a stove hearth. Not only are they important for safety regulations but you want to find one that matches your stove’s decor.
What is the best material for a wood stove hearth?
The most common and best hearth material for a wood burning stove is stone, especially slate and granite. However, you will also find hearths made from glass and steel. These can withstand high temperatures without cracking or posing a fire hazard.
What is a hearth for a stove or log burner?
Basically, a hearth is the non-combustible floor for a fireplace or stove to sit on top of.
Why should a hearth be visible?
It also helps keep passers by a safe distance away from the scaldingly hot stove exterior and prevents people accidentally placing combustibles too close to the stove. For this reason, regulations also state your hearth should be ‘visually apparent’, with the edge ideally raised above the level of the floor.
How thick should a fireplace nook be?
This is the floor of your fireplace nook that is usually made of a thick layer of concrete that should be at least 250mm thick.
What temperature should a free standing stove be?
If the heat from your free standing stove doesn’t raise the temperature of the hearth above 100°C, the following measurements must be met:
Why do you need a hearth pad?
A hearth is essential in ensuring that your home is as safe as possible when using your stove.
What to put around a wood stove?
Tile is a must if you want to add a decorative flair to the wall and floor around your wood stove. Available in countless sizes, colors, and patterns, hearth-friendly tile design options abound.
What is a wood burning stove?
The wood burning stove hearth is a practical storage spot for fireplace tools and wood. If you have a coal stove, keep a bucket of coal on the hearth. Build up your hearth on a platform to raise the stove’s presence in the room.
What is a rustic hearth?
A rustic hearth can be a simple slab, such as a stove board or hearth pad.
What is a stone fireplace made of?
Its hearth can be made from any combination of brick, flagstone, slate, and other non-combustible natural materials.
What is the best material for a fireplace surround?
Brick is a time-tested fireplace surround material. It’s an inexpensive choice compared to many other wood stove hearth ideas and will last a long time. Brick adds a rustic flavor to the room and is a logical choice if your home has a brick exterior.
What is a hearth?
What is a hearth? In simplest terms, it’s the surface immediately surrounding a fireplace or wood stove. Hearths are made from heat and fire resistant material such as brick or stone. Think of it as a safety zone to prevent sparks and embers from catching your house on fire.
What is a freestanding wood burning stove?
Freestanding wood burning stoves radiate heat throughout the room. They’re a great way to add affordable heating in a home without a built-in wood or gas fireplace, especially in cold climates where heating costs are high.
What are the rules for a hearth?
A hearth, in the most stringent application of the rules, consists of two elements, one on top of the other: 1 Constructional hearth (bottom layer): an area, underneath the stove, of non-combustible material. This protects whatever is underneath it from catching fire. It can be the floor of the room - if the floor is non-combustible and to a suitable depth (so a deep concrete floor can essentially mean the whole floor of the room is a massive constructional hearth). 2 Visual Warning Area (top layer). Sometimes called decorative hearth or superimposed hearth). This Visual Warning Area acts as a visual warning of a "restricted area" around the stove - a warning to suggest: "do not place any combustible items in this area or carpet over it". The VWA is often made of slate or tiles. Note that Visual Warning Area is a Stovefitter's term and that the term "decorative/superimposed hearth" is more widely used.
What is a hearth?
A hearth is designed to protect a building and occupants from the solid fuel appliance. Basically we do not wish to set the floor surface on fire, either by heat from the stove or from fuel falling out when you open a door. The rules are different if the stove is being inserted into a fireplace recess rather than if the stove is to be ...
How thick should a brick hearth be?
Otherwise, the constructional hearth must be 5" (125cm) of concrete or brick and a suitable VWA must also be present. An example would be a solid concrete floor at least 5" thick with a slate-hearth laid on top. Another example would be a raised brick area 5" high.
Is a glass hearth the same as a constructional hearth?
In our image above the glass hearth is, surprisingly, acting as both the constructional hearth AND the Visual Warning Area at the same time as the single piece of glass fulfils the criteria for both. The glass covers a suitable geographic area (constructional-hearth box ticked) and follows the rules for Visual Warning Area. The slim thickness is possible because the stove is certified as "allowed to have a 12mm hearth depth" (if it did not have this certification then the floor under the glass would have to be reworked).
How many elements are in a hearth?
A hearth, in the most stringent application of the rules, consists of two elements, one on top of the other:
Who owns the stove fitter's warehouse?
Stovefitter's Warehouse is owned and managed by Julian Patrick, blogger and author of The Stove Fitter's Manual. Julian was previously a full-time installer of wood-burning stoves (including solid fuel heating systems). He laid down the tools in 2013 to write his stove manual and open a small shop in North Wales (the Wood Stove Hut, soon to grow into The Stovefitter's Warehouse).
Can a stove be inserted into a fireplace recess?
The rules are different if the stove is being inserted into a fireplace recess rather than if the stove is to be “freestanding” outside of the usual stove recess (e.g. a modern stove connected to a twin wall flue that exits the building via the ceiling or wall of the room).
Floor Level Hearth
Installing a wood stove at floor level is the most efficient way to heat your space. Because heat rises, it can be hard to warm your floor with an elevated stove, so producing the heat nice and low makes a big difference.
Dwarf Wood Stoves with Tall Legs
When installing a Dwarf Wood Stove using the tall 7" legs, you won't have as much heat transfer to the floor below. Because of the added distance to your floor (or other surface that the stove is mounted on), your hearth will only need ember protection and not any added insulation.
Wood Storage Stands
Efficient use of space is an important consideration in any tiny space. For a clean, seamless look, the Dwarf Wood Storage stands are a great way to use space efficiently without impacting the appearance of your wood stove. These stands raise the stove about 10.5" off the ground for easier fire tending/viewing and a space to store wood.
Creative Stove Stands
Buying the matched wood storage stand for your Dwarf Stove isn't the only way to elevate your stove and create a space to keep wood. Maybe you want to be able to store more wood than our stand fits or you want to match your stand to the design aesthetics in the rest of your home.
How far should a stove board be from a chimney?
This distance varies depending on the stove model, from as little as 8” to as much as 36” or more.
What is hearth.com?
Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.
How far away from combustible walls should a stove be installed?
All stoves must be installed a safe distance from combustible walls. This distance varies depending on the stove model, from as little as 8” to as much as 36” or more. This distance can be reduced by one or both of the following methods:
How high should a chimney be in a single story house?
Insulated chimney is then stacked up until the required height is obtained. All chimneys must extend a minimum of 3 feet above the roof surface and 2 feet higher than any part of the building within 10 feet.
What to do with unused chimney?
Houses with unused chimneys tend to be older homes, as these structures were often built with multiple chimneys for heating, cooking, etc. Often, these older chimneys are not safe to use without some upgrading. They can be lined with approved stainless steel pipe or restored with special masonry processes (ask your chimney sweep). Pay special attention to the wall pass-through, which is the area where your stove pipe will connect to your chimney. Any wood or combustible material in this are must be cut back to comply with building codes. Special insulated sleeves are available to accomplish this transition.
Why do people put insulation around their stoves?
If they were real smart, they fit some old fiberglass insulation around it so as to stop too much room air from escaping up the chimney (made the stove draft stronger too).
What is a single wall stovepipe?
Here’s the lowdown on Stovepipe: Single Wall Stovepipe. Single wall stovepipe is designed to connect a wood stove to a nearby chimney.