Price check - $6K chimney install?

jcims said:

Hi Folks,

We plan to install a wood stove this fall, and just got our first estimate for chimney installation. The install will go through a basement wall and up about 28'. There isn't anything that I can see particularly challenging about the install, but the quote came back at just a shade over $6K. This was a bit surprising, and I'm just wondering if that is roughly what we should expect or if we should keep shopping. The chimney liner (SS) alone was quoted at ~$120/ft. I know I can order it online for $60/ft or less, but am not sure if there are factors that I'm not considering in the pipe selection.

The labor line item wasn't bad for a days effort by a small crew, but I have a feeling that the margin on the supplies is making up for it.

Anyone do these DIY? I wouldn't have any issues with getting the structure built, it's just one of those things that I wouldn't want to screw up...if you know what i mean.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Jcims- Why are you going outside with your chimney?? Is there not a way to run it up and threw your house and threw the roof? You could also always get a second opionion from another chimney sweep/installer. Is your basement finished?

I installed my 24' 8" triple wall for less than $1500. I put a ceiling adaptor in above the stove and went straight up. 4 years and nothing to clean out of it. If you have a straight shot, a sawzall and a screwgun, they go together pretty easy.

Does that include the stove and install?

The store I work at a 4' pc of ss chimney cost 160.00 acomplete system should run about $2000. rough numbers there.We would also charge about $800. for install.If it where me I would rip out the fireplace upstairs and run th chimney up that area.Or maybe there is room to put chimney alongside the fireplace that is there.Outside chimneys are a bad deal with EPA stoves.Unless you build a wooden chase insulated and sided around the pipe.

that is a very costley chimney the best ss chimney like excel thru the house material should not be over 2000.00 and inside is a cheaper mat. way to go and is better

Last November we paid $5,000 for: a Lopi Endeavor, a UL listed hearth pad, 5' of double wall stove pipe, 13' of 6" stainless steel, and an interior installation.

Wow, is it gold plated chimney? That is way too high of a price! Get another quote from another dealer or sweep. Maybe he quoted you so high cuz you didn't buy one of his stoves?

Why put a stove in the basement? May not necessarily get the heat to the upper floor(s). You could possibly put an insert or freestander in the existing fireplace on first level and would most likey heat the home/area better. and run straight up the existing chimney with liner or new piping.

$6,000.00. hmmm I put a brand new Summit insert in and new rigid insulated double wall liner for about $31,00-$3,200.00. $6,000.00 absurd!

I agree, 6000 is crazy talk . We install a lot of stove stuffs and 2000 for material and 800 for instal is about right . If you have a very tall chimney it could be a little more . Ive used some SS pipe from Lowe's in a pinch (Simpson was the manufacture) It seemed to be around 80 bucks a foot with all the parts . I would rather have a stove in the area we are planing to live . John

$6K is very high unless you live in a skyscraper. My father-in-law and I dropped a 28' SS liner and it cost me about $400 for the liner plus beer and pizza.

I would concur with all others -- $6,000 seems quite high unless there is something here I'm not seeing . . . ie. really tall install, digging/tunneling is necessary, the chimney is gold, etc. I would most definitely seek out two more bids and see how they compare with the first . . . and if there is a large difference find out what the first company is planning to do that would make them think the job would be so much more expensive.

Basements and woodstoves: Sounds like you already know about the pros- and cons- . . . well mostly cons- . . . with this type of install. Having an open stairwell should help and there are many folks here who have basement installs who are happy with them . . .

That said, I agree with Hog . . . seems to me that a much, much better way of getting the heat and taking advantage of the beauty of the stove would be to use the existing flue . . . plus I would think it would be a cheaper way to go. A nice-looking insert or free-standing stove using the existing chimney or a flex liner would (in my opinion) be a better way of using this space.

As far as the heat issue . . . you can fix it so that the great room isn't 80 degrees while the rest of the house is 54 degrees . . . the secret to this seems to be in the placement of fans . . . specifically setting up fans to establish a current of air flowing from cool areas towards the stove. Will the room with the stove be warmer . . . most likely . . . but with some experiementing you can get to the point where the difference in temps is not so extreme that you're sweating in one room and freezing in another.

Outside chimneys . . . well you already know my opinion on the stove . . . I would use the existing flue. However, if you do elect to go with an outside chimney I would not read too much into the dire words of warning about outside chimneys. In my own case I had to put in an outside chimney due to the construction of the house. I did so expecting less heat in the home and more of a problem with draft and creosote . . . I am happy to say that this has not been the case. While I am sure I am losing some heat to the exterior chimney (double-wall insulated . . . but not placed in an insulated chase) the home has been plenty warm. As far as draft and creosote . . . no issues.

That price is double for what it should be .
A 30' double wall Simpson's Duratech would only be 2400$ though us in 8" and then it's only a half day install for labor.