How to Build a Wood Stove Pad

Measure and mark the required space for the wood stove pad on the floor. Cut away any carpet with a utility knife and remove any linoleum tiles by prying them up with a flat bar. Sand the area with a sanding block after removing these floor coverings. You can install the pad directly on top of other floor treatments, such as hardwood floors.

Measure and mark the wood molding to fit along the outside edge of the marked-out space. Make 45-degree cuts with a miter saw on the molding side and end pieces. The angle-cut molding will fit together to form a rectangle or square, depending on the requirements for your specific stove.

Lay the molding in place on the floor. Align the joints of the molding pieces. Drive finish nails through the molding into the floor with a hammer, spacing the nails every three inches. Set the nails 1/16 inch below the surface of the molding, using the nail set and hammer.

Dry-fit the slate tiles into the outlined space to ensure that they fit. Remove the tiles.

Apply a coat of thin-set mortar with the trowel onto the bottom of each tile as you lay it in place. Place spacers between the tiles so there is an even gap all around. Allow the tiles to set for the specified amount of time on the thin-set mortar package.

Work grout into the spaces between the tiles with a grout float. Allow the grout to dry according to the instructions on the grout container.

Wipe the grout off the tile surfaces with a damp sponge. Allow the grout to cure for the specified amount of time.

Fill in the nail holes in the molding with wood filler. Allow the filler to dry according to the label directions. Sand the filler. Wipe off the sanding dust with a rag.

Apply painter's tape around the edges of the slate where they meet the wood molding so you won't get any stain on the tiles. Apply a coat of wood finish to the molding. Allow the finish to dry according to the manufacturer's directions. Remove the tape.

Apply a sealer to the slate tiles with a brush. Allow the sealer to dry according to the label recommendations before you install the wood stove on the pad.