How to protect the wall behind a wood stove

Q: What's the best way to protect the wall behind my cottage woodstove with brick? Are there any synthetic materials with the look and heat resistance of real masonry?

A: As it turns out, there's an option that I know works well. Various brick suppliers offer thin brick slices that are designed to fasten to drywalled surfaces with adhesive. You fill the spaces between the bricks with real mortar once the glue has dried. Since they're made from real brick, these products look quite convincing. The nicest I've seen are saw from reclaimed antique brick. The best way to find a source of supply is by doing an Internet search for the phrase 'thin brick'.

But before you finalize any construction plans, call your insurance company and ask for their opinion. They'll have very specific requirements about what constitutes a safe backing behind your woodstove. Insurance companies shoulder the fire risks, so they have every right to call the shots when it comes to what's safe.