What do I put on the wall behind my wood stove
Emma Valentine
Updated on April 20, 2026
Brick and stone are a common materials to use behind a wood stove, while many stoves can be purchased with optional heat shields to help reduce clearances.
What do you put behind a wood burner?
We recommend using porcelain tiles, which are very heat resistant. Most wood burning stoves have insulation blocks in the back and sides to minimise the heat escaping, and there should also be a minimum of 150mm (6 inches) around the back and the side of the stove for ventilation.
Is drywall OK behind a wood stove?
Drywall is combustible and not a suitable material either for use behind the wood stove or for use underneath tile. Removing it from the wall behind the wood stove allows you to install cement backerboard instead. Cut right through the drywall using a drywall saw.
How do you fireproof a wall behind a wood stove?
Bare wood or sheetrock walls around a wood stove are fire hazards. A fire-resistant wall shield is necessary to eliminate the threat of fire. The best wall shields help to radiate the heat from the stove into the room. It is conventional to install wall shields over fire-resistant wall spacers.Can you use cement board behind wood stove?
Safe wood stove installations require a heat shield that will prevent heat from the wood stove from creating a fire hazard in the building materials that form the exterior wall. Hardi cement board is an inexpensive solution that will form the foundation of an effective heat shield for any application.
What is considered a non combustible wall?
Non-combustible materials are building materials that do not burn or ignite when subjected to expected levels of fire or heat. Examples of non-combustible materials include brick masonry, concrete blocks, hardy backer board, calcium silicate board, cement board, metal, and certain types of glass.
Can you put wallpaper behind Logburner?
It is important to consider safety alongside design when creating your log burner fireplace. Using wallpaper is not recommended because it will heat up and peel off. Similarly, plastering behind your stove will result in cracks forming due to the heat.
What can I put behind a fireplace?
Air barrier material behind fireplaces must tolerate heat. Air barrier material can include thin sheet goods such as rigid insulation, sheet metal, or dry wall. These materials may be installed by insulators, framers, or subcontractors or vendors hired specifically to install the fireplace.How hot can a wall get behind a wood stove?
When you use less than the recommended clearance space for a wood stove, you can create the perfect conditions for your home to catch on fire. If doesn’t take long for a wood stove to reach a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and at that point the wall behind the stove can begin to burn.
How close can a wood stove be to a wall with heat shield?Using a “Heat Shield” on a single wall stovepipe allows you to reduce the clearances from 18″ to 6″ to the wall and 9″ to the ceiling. Many think stovepipe can run from the wood-stove, right up through the ceiling and roof.
Article first time published onHow close can a wood stove be to drywall?
Wood frame walls covered with dry wall are considered combustible. If no wall protection is used, the common radiant-type stove or heater must be spaced out at least 36 inches from the wall.
Is there fire resistant drywall?
Fireproof drywall is the common term; its industry name is Type X drywall. The thickness of this drywall is 5/8-inch, including all layers. Glass fibers are added to the board to help it retard fire. … Most Type X drywall has a one-hour fire rating.
Can you put a wood burner on an internal wall?
Yes. You can install a wood burning stove in properties without a chimney. Stovax has designed a twin-wall flue pipe system – the Stovax Professional XQ™ range – which allows rooms without chimneys to enjoy the benefits of a wood burning stove.
What kind of board do you put behind a wood stove?
Heat shields are a type of heat-resistant board placed behind a wood-burning stove or other heating appliance. They are necessary for protecting your walls and floors from damage and decreasing the risk of fire.
Is tile backer board heat resistant?
Yes, Hardie® Backer cement backerboard is suitable for under floor heating. … Hardie® Backer 12 mm cement backerboard is ideal for using on stud walls and provides enhanced impact resistance. It can also be used on the floor if addition height build up is required.
Is Hardie backer board fireproof?
Yes, HardieBacker® 1/4″ Cement Board is deemed noncombustible when tested to ASTM E 136 and can be used in conjunction with other noncombustible materials around a fireplace.
Can you use plasterboard around a log burner?
The key rule for all flue pipe is that: Any combustible material must be three times “X” away from the flue pipe where X = the diameter of the flue pipe. … The shield must, of course, be non-combustible (do not use plasterboard as it is not A1 fire-rated and may gradually crumble).
What is a fireback used for?
The primary functions of a fireback are to protect the wall at the back of the fireplace and radiate heat from the fire into the room.
Can you plaster inside a fireplace?
Do NOT use plasterboard of any kind inside the fireplace recess, even the pink fire-resistant stuff, as this is not allowed as plasterboard is not officially non-combustible (plasterboard okay on chimney breast though).
Can you make wood non combustible?
Things You’ll Need While methods of making wood almost completely fireproof are available, most of these involve expensive materials or processes requiring special materials. Fortunately you can make a simple spray- or paint-on mixture at home out of easily-obtained chemicals that will help retard flame.
Is drywall considered combustible?
Gypsum board, because of its combustible facing, will not pass ASTM E136. … Therefore remember, under the Mechanical Subcode, gypsum wallboard is classified as a combustible material.
What is an example of a combustible material?
Combustible material means a material that, in the form in which it is used and under the conditions anticipated, will ignite, burn, support combustion or release flammable vapors when subjected to fire or heat. Wood, paper, rubber, and plastics are examples of combustible materials.
How can I protect my walls from heat?
- Insulation. …
- Reflective Barriers. …
- Shading. …
- Landscaping. …
- Drapes and Blinds. …
- Shade Screens.
How do you decorate a room with a wood burning stove?
If you’re looking for wood burning stove living room ideas, achieve a contemporary look by choosing a dramatic black wood burner and mount it on a hearth of black tiles. Leave precision-pointed bricks behind the stove and fit a solid wood mantelpiece. Finish off the look with contrasting cream-painted walls.
Can I burn drywall?
Toxicity. The gypsum in drywall is difficult to burn but it will dry as the water content evaporates when burning and then begin the flake. The particles that are then given off can, when inhaled, cause health problems. As a result, it is not recommended to burn drywall for safety reasons.
Can I tile behind a wood burning stove?
ANSWER – Ceramic tile behind a woodstove works very well as long as it’s installed correctly over the right type of substrate. … It’s important, though, that the tile is attached to a surface that’s not affected by heat. It’s best to use a concrete substrate like a mortar bed or a cementitious backer unit.
Does a wood stove need a heat shield?
Wood stove clearances cannot be eliminated entirely, but they can be reduced significantly by using a properly constructed heat shield. It’s critical that heat shields are designed properly, and that rated clearance reductions for the type of shield are followed.
Does double wall stove pipe get hot?
The outside of the double wall pipe is getting heating by both the direct heat coming from the stove top and the heat radiated by the hot flue gases. The point of the flue thermometer is to know the temperature of the flue gases heading up the inside of the pipe.
How close can a wood stove be to cement board?
A combustible floor must be protected by a non-combustible material (like tile, concrete board, or certified to UL-1618 or as defined by local codes) extending beneath the heater and a minimum of 6″ from each side and minimum 16″ from the front face of the stove and minimum 6″ (or the rear clearance to combustibles …
What insulation is fireproof?
Fiberglass: Made of glass that is spun into fibers, then combined with plastic polymers, fiberglass insulation is naturally fire resistant.
What's the difference in sheetrock and drywall?
Drywall is a flat panel made of gypsum plaster sandwiched in between two sheets of thick paper. It adheres to metal or wood studs using nails or screws. Sheetrock is a specific brand of drywall sheet. These terms are often used interchangeably.