| Adding a wood stove to your home can be a | | | | you need to have something on the floor in the |
| great way to make your home feel cozy and | | | | form of a hearth for protection. How much |
| warm during blustery winter weather. Wood | | | | protection you need will depend on the stove you |
| stoves are free-standing units that can be added | | | | buy and how much heat it directs towards the |
| to any room in your house. However, most | | | | floor. A stove that is considered "listed" will have a |
| homes haven't been built with the accouterments | | | | shield already built into the bottom to protect the |
| to house a heavy accessory such as a wood | | | | floors. With a listed stove, you can get by with as |
| stove, and they obviously don't have any | | | | little as ¼" of tile to keep excess heat |
| provision made for a fire-resistant hearth to | | | | from damaging the floors. |
| protect your floors and maintain safety while | | | | If you have an unlisted stove or you want to |
| using a wood burner. You can, however, purchase | | | | make sure you provide the ultimate protection |
| wood stove pads in many colors, materials, and | | | | for the operation of your wood burner, you'll |
| finishes which will give you the protection you | | | | want to take a look at wood stove pads, either |
| need when using your wood stove. | | | | at a local home improvement or fireplace store or |
| There are some basic safety tips you need to | | | | online. By looking online you'll be able to find |
| follow when installing a wood stove. | | | | dozens of different hearth pads, so there's bound |
| * You should never burn anything except 100% | | | | to be something that will set off your stove and |
| wood in your stove. | | | | add to your décor. These pads are so |
| * You should never install a stove directly onto a | | | | durable and well-made that they don't come |
| floor unless it has legs. | | | | cheap, so be sure to add an extra $500 -- $700 |
| * Never cut the legs or pedestal off of a | | | | to your budget when you purchase the stove so |
| wood-burning stove. | | | | that you can include the pad with your purchase. |
| No matter what kind of a stove you buy, though, | | | | |