How to Build a Corner Hearth Pad for Wood Stoves

wood stove and hearth pad
  • 10-20 hours
  • Advanced
  • 100-1,500
What You'll Need
Plywood
Circular saw
Red bricks
Liquid cement
Utility knife
Plastic spacers
8-penny nails
What You'll Need
Plywood
Circular saw
Red bricks
Liquid cement
Utility knife
Plastic spacers
8-penny nails

Before installing a wood-burning stove in the corner of your room, you will want to install a corner hearth pad for safety. This pad must be resistant to fire and solid enough to hold the stove’s weight. Without one of these pads, you can damage your floor, or worse, cause a fire. You can make this pad as decorative and elaborate as you want, or you can make it simple with just a few bricks.

Step 1 - Install Backer Board

To begin, use a 1/2 inch piece of cement backer board underneath your stove. There should be 16 inches or more coming out from underneath both the front and the sides. You can cut this board with a utility knife.

Step 2 - Cut Plywood

using a circular saw to cut plywood

Next, cut the same dimensions with a circular saw from a piece of plywood that’s 3/4 inches. Be sure to take all safety precautions when using a circular saw, including wearing the appropriate eye goggles and other gear. This plywood will be the backer board’s backing, and it will give the corner hearth pad a solid surface to sit on.

Step 3 - Nail the Board to the Plywood

Using eight-penny nails, nail the backer board onto the top of the plywood cut earlier.

Step 4 - Spread Mortar

With a trowel, put a single layer of mortar onto the backer board and get ready to install the bricks.

Step 5 - Lay Red Brick

Then, using red bricks, create any pattern you would like. Make sure you stagger the brick seams so they do not line up with each other. Use plastic spacers between each brick. Pour liquid cement between each brick and let dry a few minutes before removing the excess. Let dry overnight.

Now, your hearth pad stove is complete.