Ross you wanted pics. Here is a couple.....a little over half done! Its coming along pretty good I think?! Looks nice, old and rustic.....like its been there awhile! Considering I am not a mason I am pretty happy with it! All that practice with building blocks as a kid is paying off!! I have spaced the brick out with the 1 by 3 on each side so that when I put my finished wall up it will slide behind the brick nice and snug and give it a clean look! Should be finished in a few days then next will be install the stove!

Looks good, Larry! Keep checking plumb, level, and true. And I trust you are marrying it to the durock every couple of courses.... Yeah, that will be very satisfying to look at for a long time.

Looks great Larry, Just can't tell but there is supposed to be a air space between the wall and the brick fire wall I think it's 1 inch

Believe it or not just eyeballing and keeping an eye on level and plumb every once in awhile. It supposed to look old so just making it look that way. Ties every 4 course and there is about a 1/2" gap between the brick and the cement board so I am back filling with mortar also! Doing 3 course at a time, letting it set a bit then pointing the joints (keeping it a little rough for effect) then wire brushing the brick face to remove any slop and define the joints and show the brick edge a bit.....I will take a few closeup tomorrow!

don't backfill it with mortar

looks good larry

Why? Wall is not structural...is an interior wall for simply a barrier for the heat from the wood stove and esthetic purpose?

conduction leads to spontaneous combustion

That wall is not going to get that hot....the stove is 3 feet from it? If it was gonna get that hot I could not stand to be in there at all?? I only dropped some mortar along the course where the wall ties are every 4 course. That is cement board behind it.

expansion and contraction
I'm sure it will be fine though, but the rest of the way, I'd leave air space.

Will do!:uhuh:

Because it's in the building code, and if you have a fire insurance won't pay

Looks good Larry.