interior brick wall

[dug]

I am planning to lay a brick pad for my wood stove and am thinking of building a small brick wall, about 4 ft. by 4 ft. behind the stove. I am hoping there is a mason or two out there to give me some guidance.

I'm guessing the base for the stove to rest on wouldn't be a problem, just start laying the bricks on a cement backer board?

The wall would be free standing as the stove is more or less in the middle of the house. Is this doable? It would rest on a framed subfloor. Would a standard single course work, or would I have to double them up?  The wall could get leaned on from time to time, I don't want any disasters.

[nathan.principe]

I would def double the way at least, but what might be cool ( and more structural) is frame a small partition wall out of typical studs in the dimensions you want the wall, sheath the side facing the stove with cement backer and install brick ties to the backer board before veneering with brick, you can finish out the sides and back of the wall to match the rest of the interior

[Don_P]

I was wondering sorta the same thing, steel studs, backer and stucco?

[Redoverfarm]

Dug if you want thermal mass to absorb the heat then a double course could be helpful.  But if it is just asthetics then a single wall will suffice.  I would install 1/2 sheet of ply on which you can attach the ties to.  This will secure the wall in place providing that you maintain a plumb installation.  If you are worried about clearance then you could allow weep holes at the bottom course which will allow air to drawn in at the bottom and utilize that space between the brick and the ply.  If this is the case you will need an exit for the convection effect a the top of the wall.  If clearances are not a problem just lay the brick as normal with the ties.  

I am one for stone facades behind stoves and actually I find it easier to lay the faux (cultured stone) than laying a level and plumb course of brick or block.  The procedures of ply attachment is still the same followed by a layer of 15# or 30# felt, followed by lathe wire.  Some apply the stone directly to the lathe with a standard mortar mix.  I usually parge the lathe and then lay the stone.  

The area that you describe is roughly 16 sf.  In my area I am fortunate to have a manufacturer and can purchase at a reasonable price $2.70 a sf.  Might check your local retailers for discontinued styles.  It may be possible to have this quanity shipped at a small fee.  If I can help let me know.  

[dug]

Thanks for all the info, gives me a lot to think about.

It is hard to describe, but I do want the brick to tie into a low partition wall on both sides. I would like the brick portion to be visible from both sides but did think about building a wall and laying the brick against that, so I could be talked into it. I'll have to look into the brick ties. What I do want to get out of it is to be able to back the stove up against it pretty tight, 6 inches or so. That is why I was thinking free standing wall with nothing flammable involved.

I was wondering sorta the same thing, steel studs, backer and stucco?

Is that what you were referring to with this method Don?

I like the cultured stone also, But I just have it stuck in my head that I want old brick with sloppy mortar.  I have always liked that look.

Knowing me though I'll most likely change my mind 3 times before next morning. 

[mldrenen]

But I just have it stuck in my head that I want old brick with sloppy mortar.  I have always liked that look.

same here.  i envision my wood stove hearth just as you've described, with a brick half wall behind; old mismatched bricks and sloppy mortar.  i'm not a big fan of uniformly laid bricks with perfect pointing, especially the bright red ones.

[Redoverfarm]

Dug they do make bricks (1/2 thickness) that install the same as cultured stone.  Maybe these sites will give you some inspiration.  But if you are going to go this close I would definitey use a backerboard and/or air channel.

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=ie7&q=cultured+stone&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSNA_enUS401US401

[Minicup28]

I used this brick support system over cement board and it came out excellent. Sorry I cannot access a photo website from my work computer to show you a picture. You use three dabs of construction adhesive behind each thin brick and then the tabs hold the position until you grout them all together.

http://www.tabswallsystems.com/thin.html

[texasgun]

Minicup how expensive was the backer system you used and did you have to have it shiped since thier site just shows reps phone
numbers .

[Minicup28]

Today they are $40 for a 4'x4' and $20 for a 2'x4' sheet. I bought them at a local masonry supply store that suggested them when I was inquiring about how to go about protecting the wall behind the stove. It really was a breeze and I had no experiece before. They came out perfect.

[upa]

Dug, just to throw in another monkey wrench. Keep an eye out how your going distribute the load of the brick wall. Try to make sure it falls on a joist or over a couple and ideally not entirely in between floor joists. A doubled 4x4 brick wall can weigh more than 800lbs. With your nearby 250-500lb by woodstove and a few more house guests oogling the fine wall and warming by the fire you will have a fair amount of concerning concentrated dead and live load especially if not properly distributed. Sorry, I thought I would give you something else to consternate about

[dug]

Dug, just to throw in another monkey wrench. Keep an eye out how your going distribute the load of the brick wall. Try to make sure it falls on a joist or over a couple and ideally not entirely in between floor joists. A doubled 4x4 brick wall can weigh more than 800lbs. With your nearby 250-500lb by woodstove and a few more house guests oogling the fine wall and warming by the fire you will have a fair amount of concerning concentrated dead and live load especially if not properly distributed. Sorry, I thought I would give you something else to consternate about

Thanks for the input, I am concerned about that as well. Luckily the stove and wall would be located directly above the foundation center beam, and I will probably add a joist or 2 under that area.

I can see how structurally a brick face on a backing wall would be better, but the look I'm after is a small freestanding wall visible from all directions. I have concerns about how normal flexing in a framed floor might affect the integrity of this?