Can't find a stove installed locally for less than 4k

[pcampbell]

I have called and visited a few dealers here and all of them seem to want 4k installed for stoves. I've checked pellets, wood and gas and this seems to be the starting point. I live in Northern NJ and I guess they can get away with this around here.

At this price I can't get a stove. It's just not an option. Am I just dreaming or should I be able to do something for much less. We have a very small house, about 850 sq. ft. and don't need anything with gold, etc. Just the basics, but something safe and EPA certified.

I like something like the Avalon Spokane or Enviro 1200 or ??????? and these seem to be in the low $1000 range.

Does anyone do the installations themselves or am I nuts? I am a relatively handy guy and I can read (the fire code). We have a straight shot right through the ceiling and to the roof. Here in NJ we need permits, fire dept inspection. etc. (Then when you're done they raise your taxes).

 

[webbie]

That type of an installation is doable. If you have basic carpentry skills and don't mind cutting into shingles (like installing an attic fan) it is very possible that you could DIY.

The Avalon Spokane is a lot of stove for the $$, and you get the benefits of buying from one of the industry leaders. You can save money on the chimney in a number of ways. First, ask the dealer to quote you on the chimney parts for a "cash and carry" DIY job. You should be able to get some discount on the chimney this way when packaged with the stove, especially if you are dealing with a "real" dealer (as opposed to a slicker one with high priced sales people).... I think in this way you could do the whole thing for about $2000.

It's not that the dealers are getting rich, it is just the cost of doing business and getting those permits, licenses, insurance and everything else drives up the final price. Since you can take your time with the permit, etc. it really does not cost you (like it does the dealer).

Another option is to be the "GC" on the job, and do all the planning, layout..maybe the hearth, buy the pipe and then find a chimney sweep of "small job" carpenter to put the chimney in for you. My guess would be about $500 labor in this case, bringing your total cost to $2500.

If you needed to save every penney you could dig around for stove closeouts or even newer used stoves. Sources include your dealer (sometimes has used or "dog" stoves...perfectly good, just maybe not selling), craigslist and even the local Lowes. But if a dealer can provide what you need then you are likely to feel more comfortable in terms of the advice you will get (on the chimney, etc.).

So if $2000-2500 sounds good, try that route. If you want to go even lower and have patience and shopping skills, dig around.

 

[begreen]

There are mid-sized Centurys, Drolets, and Englanders well below $1K that would serve you fine. These stove are sold at big box stores and will lack dealer assistance. But like Craig said, if you're handy, you can probably have the whole works for $2500. If you want to go the whole route yourself, you might be able to keep this below $1800 depending on the layout.

 

[argus66]

wood stove and fireplace they are in oakhust nj ( central coastal) not sure if thell go all the way up north but put mine in for 3800 for everything and i needed 8ft of pipe up on the roof wich put the price up pretty high for me and my house is 953 sq ft. doesnt look to hard to do your self after i saw it put in.

 

[begreen]

Another thought, visit a Napoleon dealer nearby and get a quote for an 1100C installed.

(broken link removed to http://direct.where2getit.com/cwc/apps/w2gi.php?template=fireplaces&client=napoleon)

 

[Hogwildz]

A nice Englander 13NC and the pipe you need....do it yourself and hummmmm, I'd say $1,500 to$2,000.00 tops.
Many in here, and myself have installed ours. I did an insert with full liner install for just over $3,000.00.

 

[babalu87]

If you can use power tools, a tape measure, caulking gun, hammer and level you can instal a woodstove.
BE SURE to know the codes, get a building permit, call your insurance company and above all relax, dont worry burn hardwood

 

[Heartwood]

Another thought, visit a Napoleon dealer nearby and get a quote for an 1100C installed.

From experience, I can't say enough about my Napoleon 1100C, and I can tell you it's plenty of stove for your SqF. All the 1100s have heat shields, so they put out the heat, yet you can sit right beside them. And the clearances are incredible--all great if you have a small house. The 1100C in my opinion is the way to go--cheaper than an 1100 unless you don't dress it any way, but you get the beauty of cast iron without it being a true cast stove (hence the above clearances). We're heating more house than you, with no problems.

As for costs, consider this. The 1100C is usually around a grand. Your stove retailer is going to charge a premium on the install, and the conventional wisdom is that they're more competent and more familair with the codes. From what I've learned in my experience, not necessarily true (I won't even get into it). I'll just say that the guys on the install trucks aren't necessarily the guys specing the stoves at the shop. A lot of independent contractors do installs at more reasonable rates, and know the codes. Call around, you'll be surprised at how many small carpenter businesses do lots of stoves. And the person in charge is likely the one doing the install. Just make sure you go over the specs of the matl. they're using, and the job when it's done--and that should be the case no matter what. There's no reason you can't get that stove put in for another $1800 or so and have the confidence of having had it done by someone w/ experience under his belt.

 

[pcampbell]

Thanks. We like the 1100c and also the Quadra Yosemite. I think my wife liked the Quadra better but we didn't see the 1100C in person so that is probably why.

I priced what I believe to be a decent (Simpson DuraPlus which is the "HT" rated) chimney with double walls inside the house for about $800 including shipping, so I feel like for probably realistically $2500 I can do it all myself and do it right. It looks like a lot of work but nothing very complicated. I read through the entire Yosemite and DuraPlus install manuals and they are very clear about clearances so there is no wondering . Now to work on the wife

 

[Heartwood]

Thanks. We like the 1100c and also the Quadra Yosemite. I think my wife liked the Quadra better but we didn't see the 1100C in person so that is probably why.

Very interesting--your research led you to the exact same two stoves we narrowed down to. The Yosemite is a great stove w/ the same tight clearances--except that the side load is going to force you to have a lot more room on that side, and I don't like sparks coming out with only so much pad below--trust me, sparks do fly when you're reloading. But be careful on something else. The Yosemite is not near as much stove. I started looking a lot closer when i noticed in the brochure it was referred to as a parlor stove. Compare the box sizes and btu ratings. The Napoleon 1100, though it is their smallest stove, is much closer in performance to a mid-sized stove. I know that not only by paper, but in having one--it's heating our 750 square foot living area, and three bedrooms, no problem. Every Quad dealer I talked to--and the manufacurer when I called and pressed for how realistic their specs were-- advised me to go up to the Cumberland Gap, which would have put the stove into the middle of our living room, and been too much stove to boot.

I almost still went with the Yosemite because of that side load, but am so glad I didn't. It's just more gaskets to deal with and a less efficient box and of course having to leave room to the right of the stove to load. Front loading is never a problem, and I know now I wouldn't even have used the side load (front loading also lets you load straight-in, which the mfr recommends for a better fill--I mix my sizes). We liked too that we could use a screen, but realize now we never would have anyway.

One more thing that gave me a bad taste on those quads. I called a number of dealers because I kept coming across ones that had dropped the brand. I kept hearing that they did not like Quadrafire because they did not support their retailers--lots of problems floating around the 'net about people not getting factory support, and dealers throwing up their hands. I have heard they're getting it back together, but there are still a lot of dealers that don't like their poor support. On the side of Napleon, my dealer stood in my living room and called their tech people from his cell phone with some of nitpicky questions and got through directly to support. I have since gotten that number to ask some questions about burning with double wall pipe (you'll have the same questions once you read your manual, no matter which stove you get), and they have no problem talking to an end customer.

I offer this only because when I was shopping over the summer, I wanted all the direct experience stories I could get, and very few people on the forum had 1100C experience then. I am so glad, though, that I decided on the Napoleon. It's a heatin sun of a gun, holds fires and heat, drafts and secondaries like nobody's business, glass is always clean, the ash dump is tight and easy to use, etc. etc. etc. Good luck.

 

[begreen]

Thanks pc. If you read both manuals, you are already ahead of the game. Take your time, make a cardboard mockup of the stove or put a tape outline on the floor to measure off of and fine-tune placement. Use a plumb bob to locate the center of the ceiling support bracket. You will likely have to make adjustments depending on the ceiling joist locations and orientation. If the stove position needs to be slightly changed to facilitate alignment, watch minimum clearances, you want to meet or exceed them. Give yourself a little wiggle room. Once everything is aligned, it's mostly cutting, fitting, screwing and patching.

And takes lots of pictures!

 

[argus66]

i too was looking at the yosemite the side door was what i liked at first too but am glad i did not get it either... that side door seems to just cause more problems and front loading is never a problem.

 

[K31Scout]

I installed my Englander 13NCP a couple of years ago. It was a simple install. Ranch, 6X12 roof pitch. I did have to move an interior wall 12" to get between the trusses I wanted to get between. It was that or have an angle in the pipe that I did not want.

My county inspector spent maybe one minute looking at the install. Make sure you do it right because your inspectors might not care like mine.

 

[jtp10181]

i too was looking at the yosemite the side door was what i liked at first too but am glad i did not get it either... that side door seems to just cause more problems and front loading is never a problem.

If people like the stove itself but don't want or need the side loader it can be left locked shut and then you get reduced clearances on the side (the same as the other side). I could be wrong but I thought I saw that in the manual.