Howdy.  Okay, I just got off the phone with a friend who suggested I purchase a Simpson Duravent chimney over the ICC Excel chimney.  WA state requires triple wall through the attic.  It seems to me there is not much difference between the two chimneys except for that the Duravent is slightly more inexpensive than the ICC. 

Can someone give me some advice on which chimney to buy?  If not one of the above chimneys then which brand?  I want to install the best chimney money can buy.

Thanks in advance.

-Kevin

Excel may be the best chimney that money can buy…  although you might hear some say Isokern is a better fit for that description.

That said, I personally wasn’t willing to pay that price premium for Excel - may have been a dealer issue, but the dealer who had Excel (boutique stove shop) quoted at least 50% more than the dealer who had Metalsbestos/Selkirk (local hardware store). I think you’ll find most people with any of the main chimney brands are pretty satisfied - the main complaints end up being a question of installation, set-up or configuration rather than quality issues with the chimney.

Bump.

I thought the pros would be all over this post with suggestions of different makers, brands to avoid, etc.  I guess I’ll go with the ICC unless someone has a differing opinion.  Anyone?

Simpson Duravent Duratech & Metalbestos are fine chimney. I’m not a fan of the air cooled chimneys (Dura Plus).  Excel is nice stuff, I don’t personally sell it but have seen it at the show.  If you want the best of the best Excel is probably it but if you have a budget then the Duratech or Metalbestos will surely last you 20+ years.

Chimneys are chimneys. Simpson, ICC, metalfab, metal bestos, they all do the same thing. Installers have preference because they like to work with what there familer with. Like KP said, there all good.

Thanks fellas.  The ICC wasn’t that much more expensive than the Duravent chimney, I think $100 more for my particular application.  And according to their website it meets the “tough Canadian standard” which has to do with 3 -30 minute fires or something to that affect.  My local hearth dealer is really pushing the ICC brand over the Duravent.  Perhaps that should raise red flags?  Maybe his p/m is greater with an ICC set up.

I’ve installed some Simpson DuraTech and was not so impressed with the looseness of fit at the twist-lock joints. Also, the manufacturer shipped in plain cardboard boxes with no padding. First piece arrived badly dented. Maybe Excel puts alittle more into their shipping containers and their pipe fits together tighter?
Good luck.

Arthur - 29 November 2006 09:40 PM

I’ve installed some Simpson DuraTech and was not so impressed with the looseness of fit at the twist-lock joints. Also, the manufacturer shipped in plain cardboard boxes with no padding. First piece arrived badly dented. Maybe Excel puts alittle more into their shipping containers and their pipe fits together tighter?
Good luck.

I used the “supervent” chimney materials which I think is made by the same company and sold by the big boxes.  I agree with your comments, the looseness of fit and flakey twist lock joints that don’t “lock” seem kind of questionable, but they are safe once you properly secure every joint with a “locking band” (sold separately of course).  Their shipping is horrible, I think every single piece was dented as Arthur described.  I had to return some of them and pop dents out of the others.  I don’t know how this compares to other brands though…

One thing to watch out for - the locking bands used to be really wide (another dumb mistake on their part) but now they are nice and narrow for a tighter fit.  Make sure you only end up with the narrow ones.