What Material Can Protect the Wall Behind a Wood Stove?
Covering the wall behind a wood stove with a material that acts like a heat shield protects combustible material such as drywall from catching fire. Use foil-covered fiberglass duct board, ceramic tile, sheet metal to protect walls around a wood stove.
Foil-covered fiberglass duct board is available at hardware and heating supply stores. Because this product is developed to withstand the heat produced by a furnace, it is suitable to protect a wall against the heat from a wood stove. Purchase a sheet of foil-covered fiberglass duct board and cut it to fit the wall. Install the board by securing it to wall studs with aluminum roofing nails. Finish the surface with heat-resistant paint.
Ceramic tile offers an attractive and protective wall finish behind a wood stove. Sheet metal also protects walls from damage from heat. Both of these options require erecting a spacer between the heat shield and the wall, allowing air to circulate. Ceramic tile or sheet metal is then applied to the surface of the spacer.
Commercial heat shields are available from hardware stores and retails stores that specialize in fireplace and wood stove products. Installation requirements vary, so it is important to always follow the instructions provided with the unit.
