How much protection is an R-value of 1.01? Well, to match the thermal protection of a ThermaShield pad using ceramic tile, you would have to use 21 layers of ¼” tile. Check out these comparisons of other non-combustible materials to a ThermaShield pad.
Alternate Materials to Match R=1.01 How Much
Durock ½” 4 Layers
Hardibacker 500½” 8 Layers
Cast Hearthstone 213⁄16” 2 Layers
Brick 23⁄8” 3 Layers
Ceramic Tile ¼” 21 Layers
Cement 5”
Marble 19”
Many other hearth pads are built on particleboard. These are fine for ember protection, but if your stove requires thermal protection, they only provide an R-value of R=0.05. That's because the value is measured from the surface of the pad to the nearest combustible material, in this case the particleboard.
For stoves that require a higher R-value than R=1.01, we offer the Low Profile Base and ThermaShield Xtreme Floor Protection System. These allow you to increase your protection to R=10.