We are installing a wood stove in the house and are working on the hearth area now. Got the actual hearth done and now I'm kind of stuck on the part going up the wall behind, don't know what you'd actually call it. We have Durock running up the wall with a 1 1/2" dead air space between that and the actual wall. Now, it's ugly. What can a person put over that? I want something fireproof (obviously) put a little better looking than plain Durock. I don't really want brick either. That would be rather space intensive, I think. Would tile work on a vertical surface? And would that be something a total novice could do? Any other ideas?