How to Fill the Gap Between a Wood Stove & a Hearth

A proper hearth is filled with a non-flammable building material that can withstand high temperatures without cracking or breaking. Slate, tile and brick facing are all acceptable building materials for a hearth pad. The hearth pad fills the gap between your wood stove and the hearth on which it sits. If you are going to undertake this as a do it yourself project, be sure to use fireplace cement so the hearth pad material you use will stay in place.

Measuring tape
Fireplace cement
Trowel
Grout
Cloth

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the size of the gap you need to fill in your hearth by measuring the size of the hearth compared to the size of your wood stove. Choose the proper building material for the gap. A gap larger than 1/2-inch needs something thick, like brick facing, while a gap of less than 1/2-inch can take something thinner, such as slate or tile.
- 2
  Prepare your hearth for the installation. Use the trowel to spread a 1/4-inch thick layer of fireplace cement over the hearth. Mark lines in the cement with the notched side of the trowel.
- 3
  Lay the brick, slate or tile into the cement, about 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch apart. Fill in any gaps in the brick with more cement.
- 4
  Cover the slate or tile with a fireproof grout and press it into the seams between the pieces. Wipe any excess grout off of the surface of the slate or tile with a damp cloth.
- 5
  Allow the grout and fireplace cement to dry for at least 36 hours before you install the wood burning stove.

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