How to install heat shields behind a wood stove? Many homeowners have switched from natural gas or electricity to wood burners in recent years. In metropolitan areas, wood, a renewable resource, is becoming more popular as a heat source.
To utilize a wood stove to heat your house, you must address safety considerations such as adequately placed heat shields to prevent fires or accidents.
It is required to have heat shields on both sides of most wood stoves. So that when you leave the house or go to bed, your concerns are alleviated, knowing that proper installation and clearances are applied. While the majority of wood stoves come with heat shields, some do not. If you are someone with a wood stove that didn’t come with heat shields and you plan on installing them, don’t worry, as you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go through how you can install heat shields behind a wood stove in this article:
Tools To Install Heat Shields Behind A Wood Stove
How to install heat shields behind a wood stove? The heat shield is an essential component of your wood-burning stove’s overall design. As the name implies, it is generally put behind a freestanding stove and protects your wall from heat damage. There are two types of heat shields; it can be metal or ceramic tile. In this article, we will tackle the particular steps to install each type of heat shield.
Listed are the tools and materials you will need:
- Woodstove
- Heatshield (metal or ceramic)
- Stud finder
- Masking tape
- Wall spacers (metal or ceramic)
- Pencil
- Drill
- Screws
- Screwdriver
- Concrete backer board
- Mastic
- Latex additive
- Notched trowel
- Sponge
- Towel
- Tile spacers
- Grout
- Grout trowel
- Grout sealer
Steps To Install Metal Heat Shield Behind Your Wood Stove
Here are the steps for you to install a metal heat shield behind your wood stove:
Step #1. Examine the certification information on the wood stove’s back
You may find certification paperwork on the back of the woodstove. In this paperwork, you can find the recommended distance between the stove and the wall. This label will also tell you how wide and tall your wall shield must be to fulfill safety requirements.
Step #2. Locate the studs
Using a stud finder, locate the studs behind the woodstove. Then tape strips of masking tape to the wall to indicate their position. Check that the tape is visible both above and below the metal heat shield’s measurements.
Step #3. Drill pilot holes into the wall studs
Mark where you will screw the holes by using a pencil. Then place the metal or ceramic spacers against the wall studs. Drill pilot holes in the wall studs using a drill bit smaller than the screw diameter.
Step #4. Drive the screws and mount the heat shield
Drive the screws into the studs through the spacers’—Mount the metal heat shield to the spacers with the provided screws that came with the metal heat shield. Because air must travel around the heat shield on all sides, none outside borders should be covered. You may want to read more about how to build heat shields for wood stoves.
Steps In Installing Ceramic Tile Heat Shields
Here are the steps for you to install a ceramic heat shield behind your wood stove:
Step #1. Mount the spacers
Install the spacers on the wall in the same way you would a metal heat shield.
Step#2. Attach the concrete backer board
Attach a concrete backer board to the spacers that are at least 3/4-inch thick. To reach the needed dimensions for heat shielding your stove, you may need more than one piece of the concrete backer board. The heat shield should extend at least 20 inches beyond each side of the woodstove and 20 inches above it.
Step #3. Apply mastic mixed with a latex additive on the wall
Using a notched tile trowel, apply mastic mixed with a latex additive to the wall. Apply mastic to the back of each tile before placing it on the wall for better adherence. Maintain the distance between the tiles by using spacers. Allow the tiles to cure for at least one night.
Step #4. Grout the tiles
Use a grout trowel to grout the tile, pushing the grout into the spaces between the tiles and removing the spacers as you go. Work with the grout with care, making sure there are no gaps. With a moist sponge, wipe away any excess grout from the tile faces. If you moisten the grout too much, it will weaken. To eliminate grout haze, polish the tile with a dry cloth. Allow the grout to dry overnight. My friends, you may want to read how to clean wood burning stove.
Step #5. Apply the grout sealer
To preserve the grout and make cleaning easier, use a grout sealant. Those are the particular steps on how you can install heat shields behind a wood stove. And by now, you would probably have learned many valuable recommendations for your wood stove. Follow all the steps mentioned previously, then do the instructions with the utmost caution and care, as safety is always a priority.
Conclusion
How to install heat shields behind a wood stove? As mentioned above, it is necessary always to make sure you have enough clearance or use heat shields to decrease wood stove clearances. Furthermore, while acquiring and installing a heat shield for your wood-burning stove, it’s preferable to deal with a reputable manufacturer.
Doing this will ultimately allow you to get the most out of your stove while protecting your house and keeping you warm throughout the winter months. Wood-burning stoves provide a great deal of heat. If you don’t have a tiled heat barrier, this may be harmful. We hope that this post has guided you through installing your much-needed heat shields. Read how to make wood stove look new and why does my wood stove smoke up the house.