Barn Tuneup – New Hearth Pad

Now that we are on the verge of big time heating season I can reflect on the new hearth pad I made for the wood/coal stove in the basement of the barn.  In the past, due mostly to the fact that the stove was installed in the dead of winter with near-zero temps, the pad for the stove was simply loose firebricks laid on top of the plywood sub-floor.  It had remained that way for four years until I revisited the situation over the summer.

I removed all of the loose firebricks except for the four underneath the stove feet and a row around the perimeter and hand-poured a concrete pad (reinforced with hardware cloth) in its place.   I don’d know if it will make any difference but it makes me happier to have it done.

It is pretty clear from the results that I am not a mason or concrete specialist.  Regardless, it is ready to go and provides a permanent foundation for the 500-pound stove for as long as the barn is standing.