How to Build a Protected Wall for a Wood Stove

Wood stoves need special care in their placement in the home. As the stove heats from the wood fire inside, a lot of heat radiates from the top and sides of the stove, warming the surrounding walls. These walls need protection from the constant heat with special materials. Of course, if your wood stove is in the middle of the room, a protective wall is not necessary, but you usually choose to situate your wood stoves off to one side of a room.

Measuring tape
Fireproof millboard
Saw
1-inch fireproof spacers
3-inch wood screws

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the distance between the stove and the wall. If the stove is closer than 36 inches on any side, you will need to construct a baffle to deflect the heat away from the wall. Distances 36 inches or greater simply need a heat shield on the wall.
- 2
  Measure the height and width of the wall area that needs to be covered, and cut fireproof millboard to match. Reduce the height and width by 1 inch to allow for airflow around the wall.
- 3
  Attach the millboard to the wall using 1-inch fireproof spacers to hold the boards away from the wall, creating an air cushion. Use several steel washers or 1-inch sections of metal pipe as the spacers. Screw 3-inch screws 1 1/2 inches through the board and hang the spacers on the screws. Line the board up with the wall, lifting it up by an inch with a board or blocks. Screw the millboard in place.

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