Do I need a heat shield behind a wood stove?

Author: Yolanda Harber DDS  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 12, 2025

Stove heat shields are important for a few reasons. Firstly, they can help to prevent burns from happening when the stove is used. Secondly, a stove heat shield can protect the cooktop surface from damage. Finally, a stove heat shield can reduce the amount of heat that is transferred to the cooktop.

Do you need a heat shield for a wood stove?

If you are unable to place your stove with at least a 900mm clearance between it and other surfaces, then you'll need to install a heat shield. Situated between the stove and the exposed surface, a heat shield will reduce the required distance for safety.

How close can a wood stove be to a wall with heat shield?

If you are using a heat shield to reduce clearances in a project subject to building codes, the shield cannot reduce clearances from the appliance to the wall less than 12" with an air-cooled shield or less than 18" with an insulated shield unless the shield and stove are specifically tested and listed for that purpose ...

What is required on the wall behind a wood stove?

The National Fire Protection Association recommends a minimum of 36 inches between the stove and combustible walls, furniture, and other things. However, you may lower the distance by using a noncombustible heat screen to protect your walls.

What is the best thing to put behind a wood-burning stove?

A piece of cement sheet behind and under the wood heater covered with some nice tiles will look good and shield your walls and floor from the radiant heat behind and under the unit. You can use slate or even stone counter-top offcuts too!.

How to circulate hot air from your wood stove

Can I use cement board as a heat shield for a wood stove?

PermaBASE Building Products created a wall heat shield system that can be made of ½" PermaBASE or ½" PermaBASE PLUS® cement boards — both of which are listed by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. for use with UL-listed solid-fuel and fireplace stove.

What does a wood stove need to sit on?

A bare section of floor in a material like stone, brick, or tile is ideal for a wood stove. If you don't have any fire-resistant flooring in your house, you'll need to add a section of flooring below where the wood stove will go.

What do I put on the wall behind my stove?

Tile options:
  1. Ceramic Tile.
  2. Glass Tile.
  3. Stone.
  4. Stainless Steel. Stainless steel is another popular option for stove backsplashes. Stainless steel appliances are quite popular, offering both a sleek appearance, great durability and a surface that wipes clean easily.

How much clearance do you need for a heat shield on a wood stove?

Heat Shield Construction Rules

Minimum clearance along the top of shield at ceiling: 75 mm (3 in.). Shield extension beyond each side of appliance: 450 mm (18 in.). Shield extension above appliance: 500 mm (20 in.). Edge clearance for ceiling shields: 75 mm (3 in.).

How do you prepare a wall for a wood-burning stove?

If your walls are combustible, you can install a shield on a wall to reduce the stove's clearance area. Like the floor pad, the shield should be made of a noncombustible material, such as sheet metal.

What can be used as a heat shield?

Some high-end rigid heat shields are made out of either aluminum, gold or composite, with most examples including a ceramic coating to provide a thermal barrier, which improves heat insulation. The flexible heat shield are normally made from thin aluminum or gold sheeting, most commonly sold either flat or in a roll.

Is cement board a good heat shield?

The industry's solution for heat shields

PermaBASE cement boards are the industry-preferred choice. Installation-ready and easy-to-use, PermaBASE® cement boards eliminate the need for field fabrication, saving time while allowing for enhanced performance and wood-burning stove placement closer to the wall.

Can you vent a wood stove straight out the wall?

You have to use a UL-approved Stainless Steel Class "A" insulated chimney or a sound masonry chimney. Here are some of the ways you can install a chimney in your home. There are 2 basic ways to vent a wood-burning stove, (1) straight up and out the ceiling or (2) out the wall and along the side of the house.

How necessary is a heat shield?

Heat shields are essential components found under vehicles. They protect parts from the intense heat generated by the engine and exhaust system. They act as thermal barriers. And are made of materials like aluminum, stainless steel, or fiberglass.

Can copper be used as a heat shield for a wood stove?

Copper heat shields aren't all about science and safety. As well as protecting walls and making your wood burner work harder, copper introduces an unparalleled finish to your decor. When it comes to interior design, the pinkish-orange shades of copper are in a class of their own.

Can you use a wood stove without a baffle board?

We could probably best summarise the answer to the question as relatively safe but highly inadvisable. Operating a woodburner without a baffle is unlikely to cause any immediate risk of injury. What it does risk is causing irreparable damage to your stove.

How do you fireproof a wall behind a wood stove?

Choosing the right materials behind a wood-burning stove is crucial for maintaining safety and protecting your home. Non-combustible backings, heat-resistant wall panels, fire-resistant boards, and tiles or stone can all be effective protective measures.

Can sheet metal be used as a heat shield?

We should use a large sheet of metal that does not have any holes or channels. By placing this sheet of metal around the heat source, it will reflect back the thermal radiation created by the heat source and block much of the thermal convection.

Can you put corrugated metal behind a wood stove?

Adding corrugated metal behind your wood stove is an excellent way to protect your walls, prevent fires, and create a stylish, rustic look in your home. It's an easy and practical winter DIY project that adds both safety and charm to your space.

What do I need behind my wood stove?

Replacing the back wall with heat-resistant materials, like heat-resistant stones or a specialized wood stove heat shield, can be cumbersome and aesthetically displeasing. A simpler, more elegant solution is to use a cast iron fireback as a heat shield for the wood stove.

What is the best material for behind a stove?

Thus, thermoplastic is not a functional backsplash option for the area behind the stove. The best choices here would be ceramic, porcelain, glass, and metal tiles, as they are nonporous, and resistant to stains, fading, heat, and moisture.

What can I put behind my stove without back?

A tile backsplash behind the stove serves as a focal point, adding style and character to your kitchen. It's also practical, protecting the wall from heat, splatters, and spills, and it's easier to clean compared to other wall surfaces.

What is the best thing to put under a wood stove?

Ceramic or stone tile is an excellent choice for floor protection because of three characteristics: They are a very strong and durable material. They withstand the heat and weight of the stove without deformation or damage.

How much gap do you need behind a wood burning stove?

Air gaps to non-combustibles behind stoves? 2″ absolute minimum but 3″ is our minimum recommended and more if you can get it. But check those manufacturer's instructions. Air gaps to non-combustibles above stoves?

Can you put a wood stove on laminate flooring?

Yes, it can. However, you should consider a number of things. Sometimes, when you open a stove door, sparks can enter the room and leave little burning spots on your floor.

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