Hi, I'm having a fireplace hood custom made from welded steel plate. This hood will be exposed to the heat of the fire and I fear it might get dangerously hot. I don't want anyone to burn themselves by accidentally brushing against it when there's a fire going. I have been told there are materials I can use to laminate the inside of the hood such that it will act as insulation and print the metal from getting too hot. It doesn't mean the hood won't get warm or even hot, but not dangerously so. Does anyone have any advice or experience with this? The metalshop making the hood disclaims any knowledge of how to do it (they don't usually make fireplace hoods) so I will have to do it myself or hire a third party to do it before the hood is installed. Thanks! Hal

Yes to removing or covering the hearth tile. If we don't need it, we could put the hardwood there when that work is done. The fireplace has black metal that doesn't look finished if it's left exposed. Maybe a new layer of wall board coming in further with metal stripping around the opening? Thank you!

Look at Romabio limewash for natural stone. You have a choice in how you apply it to make it varying degrees of translucent which might be the look you are thinking.

Here is a current photo