I've installed a Heatilator zero-clearance wood burning fireplace and now am
doing the finish work on the surrround. I'd like to place tile up to or almost
up to the firebox opening, and have seen plenty of manufacturer "gallery"
photos showing this being done. The problem (for me) is that the fireplace has
a 3 inch black painted sheet metal border on the sides, and a 6 inch border
above the top of the firebox. Somehow I need to attach tile over this surface.
A Google search doesn't yield any consensus-- one person says to place the tile
right on the metal with latex modified thinset, another says some sort of
epoxy, a third says attach 1/4" Hardibacker over the metal (but then you have
an edge or return to deal with). The manufacturer's rep (whom I don't really
trust) casually says that you can just place thinset on the metal and lay the
tile as usual.
Opinions? Advice? TIA.