Converting from PreFab to NZ3000 - $16k estimate?!?!

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ObuseMe

ObuseMe

New Member
Feb 9, 2016
12
Philly Suburbs
Hello all,
Just starting to immerse myself in the huge amounts of knowledge and friendliness here, thanks for having me.

I currently have a Majestic mr42a prefab fireplace, and I want to get to an efficient wood burning solution. So seeking any and all advice on how to do this in a cost effective manner.

I had someone come out and take a look and some measurements to spec out installing a NZ3000. A couple days later, they provided an estimate of $16k to install the NZ3000. Is that realistic? It seems high to me. The proposal was itemized by each task needed to be completed, but prices were not provided for each piece of labor or material. I know the stove is about $4k based on what I saw online. And I'd need a new chimney liner. They would also be ripping out all the existing brick facade, and replacing it.

Also considering a HE250 Ventis, or even carving out a nook for a free standing stove if that's more cost efficient.

Thanks

Here's a pic of what it looks like now.
 

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That is pretty expensive. Wonder how much is the masonry work? I would expect the fireplace replacement with chimney to be closer to around $8-10K.

The least expensive alternative might be to put a rear-venting stove on the hearth connected to an insulated liner dropped down the flue. That could come in at under $4000. What is the height of the fireplace opening?
 
Ya, I'll probably have a call with them tomorrow to break down the proposal. $8k-$10k was the range I had in mind too.

Totally didn't consider a rear vented wood stove. Height of the opening may be a problem, it's 21.5". Are there any stoves on the market with a rear vent that low?
 
ObuseMe said:
Ya, I'll probably have a call with them tomorrow to break down the proposal. $8k-$10k was the range I had in mind too.

Totally didn't consider a rear vented wood stove. Height of the opening may be a problem, it's 21.5". Are there any stoves on the market with a rear vent that low?
Click to expand...

I was going to recommend a rear exit free stander as well, until I saw the picture/your measurement. That is very short, and choices will be limited. Try to get an itemized quote, as it seems pretty high.
 
That is a low opening. One option would be to lower the hearth by removing some or all of the hearth brick and replacing it with a hearth that's not as high.
 
How much do you think you are capable of yourself? That's one way to save money. I spent about $4k on my install.

v Click that link down there v
 
I'll add - the Napoleon NZ3000 is a top-of-the-line zero clearance fireplace and with that comes hefty prices. I don't know for certain, but I'm pretty sure the NZ3000 unit is more like $6,000 - Napoleon nickles and dimes you for every little part (what they call extras). Unlike most other ZC fireplaces, the fans aren't even included in the base price of the NZ3000.

There are certainly happy owners of this unit on heart.com - hopefully they can chime in...

Matt
 
True true. As a counterpoint, there are good ZC units for $3K or less.
 
I once had a pre fab fireplace like yours. Eventually, I tore down all of the hallow brick wall, hearth, removed the pre fab unit, put dry wall up over the hole, made a whole new hearth, and plopped a free standing stove down onto it. I couldn't be happier with this decision and result. If you are are even somewhat handy, this really isn't as big of a task as you would think (it wasn't as bad as I though it was going to be).

Based on your picture, I'm guessing that is just hallow brick on the wall and the actual hearth is just brick around the outside with cinder blocks in the middle and should come down with fairly little effort. You could even purchase a hearth pad and put it down on the floor if you do not want to build one after removal of the previous hearth. This way, you would only need to pay for the cost of a new stove, pipe, and installation. Unless you are set on having a somewhat traditional fireplace look, I would put this option into your consideration.
 
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Hearthstone Homestead would work in that space. On their website it is listed at $2,450 right now. Not the largest stove out there, but puts out quite a bit of heat and has a rear exit meeting your height requirements.

The Homestead can be used as an insert into the existing fireplace, or as a freestanding. Personally I would do as others have suggested and tear out the old fireplace and make the stove freestanding. More heat that way.

Stove: http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/store/wood-products/wood-stoves/homestead-freestanding

Specs: http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/assets/files/document_library/HomesteadHM.pdf

On a side note, I see a lot of spirited discussions coming up with your wife when you do start bringing wood into the house. That white/beige carpet will be trashed in one season if you aren't careful. I can see a hardwood floor in your future.
 
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MarylandGuy said:
On a side note, I see a lot of spirited discussions coming up with your wife when you do start bringing wood into the house. That white/beige carpet will be trashed in one season if you aren't careful. I can see a hardwood floor in your future.
Click to expand...

I didn't notice the carpet.. Even being careful, that's going to be a mess.
 
If you are somewhat handy and you can do some of the deconstruction, and maybe some of the reconstruction such as framing you can probably cut that estimate in almost half. For my zc fireplace it was around $7k for them to set the unit, hook everything up, and run a new chimney. Cost of unit included which was right around 5k.
 
i had a heat n glo northstar fireplace installed. complete fireplace with install was $6200. i demo'd the brick facade and then had a mason install new rock work for about $2400. your setup looks very similar to mine.
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads...t-n-glo-northstar-fireplace-with-pics.149631/

also, i seem to recall that the NZ3000 had high emissions, so that dissuaded me. it is a fine looking unit though... also, i recall people calling it "wood hungry" as well.
 
MarylandGuy said:
Hearthstone Homestead would work in that space. On their website it is listed at $2,450 right now. Not the largest stove out there, but puts out quite a bit of heat and has a rear exit meeting your height requirements.

The Homestead can be used as an insert into the existing fireplace, or as a freestanding. Personally I would do as others have suggested and tear out the old fireplace and make the stove freestanding. More heat that way.

Stove: http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/store/wood-products/wood-stoves/homestead-freestanding

Specs: http://www.hearthstonestoves.com/assets/files/document_library/HomesteadHM.pdf
Click to expand...
Wow, that is a mean little unit with a decent BTU output.

On a side note, I see a lot of spirited discussions coming up with your wife when you do start bringing wood into the house. That white/beige carpet will be trashed in one season if you aren't careful. I can see a hardwood floor in your future.
Click to expand...

Ya totally! It's also the only room on the first floor with carpet, so you are so right.[/QUOTE]
 
mellow said:
How much area are you looking to heat?
Click to expand...
Primarily this main room, where we spend most of our time, but as much of the house as possible. This great room has a ceiling fan, as well as all of the upstairs bedrooms

mellow said:
Will this be part time or full time burning?
Click to expand...
At this point part time. Both my wife and I work full time. So pretty much get a burn going every night, and then a full time burn on the weekends. That being said, I could totally see a future where one of us was home full time, at which point I kind of want to future proof myself.

mellow said:
Were you going to duct the heat to other parts of the house with the NZ?
Click to expand...
I would love to do this, but the positioning of the fireplace doesn't really allow for that (I don't think). The duct has to go up, right? No going down with forcing the heat with a fan to get into duct work that runs elsewhere, right?
 
FoxTrotBoogie said:
If you are somewhat handy and you can do some of the deconstruction, and maybe some of the reconstruction such as framing you can probably cut that estimate in almost half. For my zc fireplace it was around $7k for them to set the unit, hook everything up, and run a new chimney. Cost of unit included which was right around 5k.
Click to expand...
I'd say I'm somewhat handy. Probably my most ambitious project is that I've demo'd a bathroom down to the studs and remodeled it. The thing is with the fireplace, I have some level of nervousness to not mess around with stuff that could burn the house down if I did it wrong. I guess that doesn't apply to the demolition though.
 
claydogg84 said:
I didn't notice the carpet.. Even being careful, that's going to be a mess.
Click to expand...
Ya, guess I'm signing up for a lot of vacuuming. The thing is, I live in the woods, and have near-unlimited wood available. Besides everything to love about a nice hearth, I feel like I have a huge missed opportunity by not taking advantage of my location.
 
sen166 said:
I once had a pre fab fireplace like yours. Eventually, I tore down all of the hallow brick wall, hearth, removed the pre fab unit, put dry wall up over the hole, made a whole new hearth, and plopped a free standing stove down onto it. I couldn't be happier with this decision and result. If you are are even somewhat handy, this really isn't as big of a task as you would think (it wasn't as bad as I though it was going to be).

Based on your picture, I'm guessing that is just hallow brick on the wall and the actual hearth is just brick around the outside with cinder blocks in the middle and should come down with fairly little effort. You could even purchase a hearth pad and put it down on the floor if you do not want to build one after removal of the previous hearth. This way, you would only need to pay for the cost of a new stove, pipe, and installation. Unless you are set on having a somewhat traditional fireplace look, I would put this option into your consideration.
Click to expand...

I'm not set on the traditional fireplace look, especially if it's 3x the cost. This sounds like a good options. How did you run your pipe? Straight up from the stove, or first back into the chase and then up? Got any pics of the final setup?
 
The numbers are in from the installer, here's how their itemized proposal:
  • $6099 - NZ300 itself (arched cast iron doors painted black, arched faceplate painted black)
  • $2500 - All Fuel Stainless Steel Pipe System
  • $1500 - Installation
  • $2500 - Ripout, removal of current prefab unit, and framing for new unit
  • $1400 - Masonry stone, and installation, 40 sq ft
  • $850 - New slate hearth
  • $550 - New mantel
As a couple have said in this thread, the NZ3000 is priced as a top of the line unit. From prices I've seen googling, I may be getting overcharged? $2500 for ripout seems really high too. Is it any more than chipping away at the brick, removal of the fireplace, and then removal of the pipe? Any gotchas in that process, or is that a DIY thing?

Another unit I've been looking at is the HE250 Ventis from Olympia Chimney. From someone totally different, I was quoted $3134 for the unit, and $1176 for the pipe - significantly less than the NZ3000, but as far as I can tell, very similar in functionality.
 
$2,500 for the pipe sounds like there is a bit of a markup. The $1,500 for install seems high considering they are charging you another rate for demo. $2,500 for demo and new framing is also a little high. Keep in mind, businesses have overhead, hence the markup.
 
I mentioned earlier in the post the NZ3000 zc fireplace sells at approx $6,000, so the quote of $6,100 is totally in-line and certainly not price gauging....

Matt
 
ObuseMe said:
I'd say I'm somewhat handy. Probably my most ambitious project is that I've demo'd a bathroom down to the studs and remodeled it. The thing is with the fireplace, I have some level of nervousness to not mess around with stuff that could burn the house down if I did it wrong. I guess that doesn't apply to the demolition though.
Click to expand...

I would say if you did a complete bathroom gut and remodel you should have no trouble demo the original fireplace. Framing is also not difficult if you just follow the manual's dimensions. Have the installer put in the new fireplace and hook up the chimney and then finish it out yourself. If you have even a little tile experience you should be able to install stone veneer.
 
mol1jb said:
I would say if you did a complete bathroom gut and remodel you should have no trouble demo the original fireplace. Framing is also not difficult if you just follow the manual's dimensions. Have the installer put in the new fireplace and hook up the chimney and then finish it out yourself. If you have even a little tile experience you should be able to install stone veneer.
Click to expand...

That is exactly how I did mine to appease my insurance company, and wifes wishes. I believe they charged $500 to install the unit and $700 to install the chimney pipe.
 
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