Is This Install Price Unreasonable?

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Brucen

Member
Dec 9, 2010
8
Chepachet, RI
Preston Trading Post is delivering my Jotul Kennebec next Thursday. My installer (recommended by Preston) is doing his work on Friday. His total price is $1,150 for the stainless steel liner, cap, labor etc. which to me didn't seem too bad. I've been reading this great forum a lot lately and it seems like the install (outside chimney) should include liner insulation and a block off plate. I talked to the installer and he didn't think either were neccessary. He said he will be blocking of at the top with insulation. He said he has been installing for over 30 years and has not had any complaints on his previous installs. He doesn't think what I'm suggesting needs to be done, really needs to be done. I asked him for prices anyway to include insulated liner and a block off plate. He quoted me $446 for various things needed for the insulated liner and $237 for the block off plate plus $250 labor costs. I said that $237 seemed like a lot of money for a sheet metal block off plate but he said that he will purchase this with insulation backing, etc. He also said he could insulate the liner only if the flue was large enough which I'm getting back to him on.
So the complete installation will be about $2,080. Doing it myself is really not an option. How unreasonable are his charges for this?
Thanks in advance,
Bruce
 
I have a free standing stove so I may be speaking out of turn here but...... The idea of a block off plate, to my understanding, is to keep the heat down out of the masonary chimney so you are not heating up that mass, and losing heat that could be in the home. Insulation at the top will keep the heat from escaping the chimney and in the masonary but not in the house. It would seem it is better than nothing but at the same time not as good as it could be. I am sure some others who have a blockoff plate will chime in but I would think that NOW is the time to get the plate put in.

As far as the price I have no idea, but I think you are smart looking into and most likely spending the extra $$$ now.
 
I guess Prestons price was cheap enough to not shop at your local dealer and have it installed by them. Preston was the reason Jotul was sold against in my showroom on Long Island instead of promoted. The insert liner should be sealed at the damper and at the top of the chimney.
 
The place I ordered my stove from is charging 400 for the install. My Oslo will be a hearth mount which will rear vent into a SS T, 25 feet of SS flex, and a chimney cap. I am assuming they will have to work on the existing damper as well.
 
The installers I talked to before I did it myself all said insulating and block-off plates are unnecessary. From a safety point of view, they are for the most part correct. However, their not the ones buying or cutting/splitting/stacking the wood for the stove. So keeping the heat in the home rather than heating your chimney is for your benefit in wood use.
The insulating part helps promote a good draft and limits the amount of creosote build-up in the liner. Hot sides of the liner prevent smoke/water condensing on the metal. So less cleaning of the chimney again saves you time or money--not the installer.
If you want to lower the cost/complexity of this install you can just request a "soft" blockoff. That is just a piece of rockwool insulation jammed up at the top of the fireplace. It will stay put & keep some of the heat from going up into the chimney. You will just have to clean the liner a little more often & focus your woodburning to winter--not spring & fall when you are trying to keep a smaller fire going.
 
From what I've read here, there is no argument. A block off plate and insulation (especially for an outside chimney) should be a part of my insert installation. But it seems like my installer really doesn't want to do either and I think the additional $930 he wants to charge reflects that.
About how much will costs increase to use insulation on the lining and how much additional labor is required? A block off plate for $237 not including labor seems ridiculous to me. I didn't know they even sold block off plates rather than just configuring one out of a sheet of metal. I'm just trying to get additional opinions on the cost here on the forum to make my decision of either staying with this installer or finding another.
Thanks in advance,
Bruce
 
What your guy is wantin to do is what the guy who installed my liner did. Insulate at top plate, ran liner and cap. I didnt think too much about the chimney bein on the outside of the house but I am now. He only charged me $175 to install my liner the way your guy is wantin to do yours so I'd say $1,150 is crazy.
 
Brucen said:
From what I've read here, there is no argument. A block off plate and insulation (especially for an outside chimney) should be a part of my insert installation. But it seems like my installer really doesn't want to do either and I think the additional $930 he wants to charge reflects that.
About how much will costs increase to use insulation on the lining and how much additional labor is required? A block off plate for $237 not including labor seems ridiculous to me. I didn't know they even sold block off plates rather than just configuring one out of a sheet of metal. I'm just trying to get additional opinions on the cost here on the forum to make my decision of either staying with this installer or finding another.
Thanks in advance,
Bruce
Click to expand...

Insulation for the linear will cost between $200 to $500. It does make for alot of additional labor and it is a pain compared to sliding in a linear without the insulation. I did my own and did the insulation. As for a block off plate. I spent about $15 at Lowes on sheet metal and another $10 on some snipes to cut it and made my own lower block off plate in about 30 min. The top was sealed with the cap for the linear. I think the price is high in my opinion
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
Purchasing a woodstove and just met with the installer. I have questions!
Replies
4
Views
675
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
bholler
B
S
Woodstove install advice into manufactured fireplace
Replies
6
Views
949
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
R
Roxul-Block Off Plate
Replies
9
Views
2K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
begreen
begreen
K
Liner Insulation
Replies
3
Views
1K
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
bholler
B
KDubU
Flue Install Quote
Replies
4
Views
747
The Hearth Room - Wood Stoves and Fireplaces
Ctwoodtick
Ctwoodtick
Top Bottom
Back