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

Hey, welcome to the forum. I would get a second quote from another company. The labor costs and mark up on materials seems really high. While the second company is at the house, ask them a bunch of questions about the install process. You may be capable of doing a lot of the work yourself. The trick is finding the time to do a fairly large project. Otherwise, maybe the new guy comes in significantly lower and you can go with him. If you're not dead set on getting a ZC fireplace, there are a few less expensive routs to take, as mentioned in previous posts. Good luck!

doing the demo of the old one will take some effort. the reframe is significantly less. demoing brick and the facade is NBD, but getting the existing ZC insert out is another story if you're not familiar with the process. expect a solid day for that task (with the brick demo)

ObuseMe said:

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?

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The pipe runs straight up from the stove and through the roof. The original ZC fireplace was on the outer wall in the center of the room. I moved the wood stove over into the corner of the room where it was more aesthetically pleasing. I don't have any pictures of the final install, however, if you never saw the room before with the old ZC fireplace, you wouldn't even know it was ever there. The old chase is still used for a venting purposes for other appliances.

16k to convert. No way. Not on your best day.

We put the Homestead in front of a useless fireplace. It did a good job heating our 1500 sq ft ranch 24/7. But my wife is a stay at home mom. She would tend the fire during the day. The smallish firebox limits burn time. When it is really cold it liked 6 hr cycles. I also don't know how you would like as a part time burner. It did a real nice job of heating our home. I would load it at 11pm and have plenty of coals to start another load at 6 am. We have recently sold that house and looking into options for our new house.
I did the install myself. Seems like I had 3500 in stove and Simpson Duravent double wall insulated liner.
It has been approx. 10 years.
Good Luck
Dan