How Do I Ventilate House Walls for Wood Stove Heat?

Contact your local city or county building department. Find out if you need a permit to install a wood stove and obtain the installation code requirements. Codes for older stoves often require them to be no closer than 36 inches from any combustible wall, but this space may be reduced if you install a vented wall shield. Wood stove wall shields are attached to the wall and have to be a slight distance away from it -- usually around 1 inch -- so that air can circulate behind the shield and ventilate the wall, thus preventing the intense heat from igniting the wall. The code for "listed" stoves is usually less strict, but you may still require a shield.

Measure the space intended for your wood stove. The shield must be higher than the stove and lower than the body of your stove but not necessarily meeting the floor if your stove is set on long legs. Code dimensions for wall shield installation will include the minimum space between the shield and combustible wall, minimum and maximum clearance along the bottom of the shield, maximum clearance between the top of the shield and the ceiling, shield extension beyond each side and above the wood stove, plus mounting hardware location and types and materials used to build the shield.

Purchase your wood stove wall shield at your local hardware or builder's supply store and install it following local code requirements. Shields come with spacers to allow them to be mounted an inch or so away from the wall to allow for proper ventilation. They are made from steel and can have a thin rock, brick, tile or mineral veneer.

Alternatively, you can have a masonry contractor build the shield for you. Be sure he follows code requirements and ventilates the shield correctly.