Dumbfounded

[jillybeansisme]

Well, the house is coming along and my furniture/stuff is supposed to be moving in mid-December with me and my daughter moving in the beginning of February.

The place that sells the wood stove I want was having an anniversary sale. I told the Builder, who then got a quote. Now the stove has arrived and guess what . . . it didn't include the necessary pipe! How do you quote a stove for new construction without a chimney pipe? I'm being told it'll be $1,500 extra.

Did the place really think I would fire up a stove without a chimney? I am not happy at the moment, but I appreciate being able to vent here. Thanks for listening and I'd be happy for any suggestions on getting chimney pipe for less than $1,500 . . . or is that a reasonable price?

 

[Dunragit]

probably about right depending on height and installation cost

 

[bholler]

How do you quote a stove for new construction without a chimney pipe?

If you asked for a quote on the stove that is what you will get how are thay supposed to know you need a chimney to? Now they should have asked what it was going to be venting into and realized you needed a chimney to. But we need allot more info to know if $1500 is a fair price but it certainly is not unheard of

 

[DougA]

Some stoves are priced without doors, etc. so no surprise to me that it's without a chimney. I assume the builder is doing the installation because that is probably not included either.

 

[BobUrban]

Um?? I think this is rather standard and quite obvious why it happened - you didn't ask for the chimney system. A good sales rep certainly would have tried to "up-sell" all that but if you go to buy a stove - you get a stove. Not a house to put it in.

Again,depending on the set up - $1500.00 sounds very fair for the parts price. Check with your builder and have him price it out elsewhere - may have access to wholesale at a bit of a discount but my chimney install(parts and all) was much, much more than I paid for my stove. AAA pipe is pricy.

 

[jillybeansisme]

Thanks for the input. I guess I just presumed the Builder would ask for everything needed since he's the one who knows everything that is needed. When I put my first ZC fireplace in (myself) my first house, they sold me everything I needed all at once. The good news is that the Builder said don't worry about it and he will be taking care of it! Happy Dance going on!

 

[begreen]

Chimney is infrastructure and made by a completely different manufacturer. This is a separate quote from a stove. I'm glad it is all getting sorted out. Building a new home can be stressful at times. Take a deep breath, there will be other highs and lows.

 

[DanCorcoran]

My only advice would be to have a conversation with the builder. Try to find out how much experience he has installing woodstoves. If he's assuming that it's like installing any other appliance, but has never done one, I think I'd reconsider. Can't hurt to do a little investigating...

 

[DougA]

Ditto that and have it inspected as soon as the builder has it installed.

 

[begreen]

And send him here if he has questions!

 

[jillybeansisme]

I will, I will, and I will! I think it was just an oversight on his part because we found the sale by accident and he was in the middle of something else; however, you can be too careful when it comes to fire! I've installed a ZC myself and if I can do it, I'm sure he can do it! Still, I know it has to be inspected. I appreciate all the feedback and I'm still doing the happy dance that he said don't worry about the extra cost -- he will deal with it!

@BobUrban Obvious to you perhaps, but not obvious to me or I would have asked the question and made sure. I do appreciate your input though.

 

[blacktail]

At least you're starting with new construction so you can put everything where you want it. If you buy an existing house, you have to work with what's there.

 

[jillybeansisme]

So true, Blacktail, so true. It's been such a long tunnel I've travelled through to get to this point and I'm so excited for the progress. It took 5 contracts before my last house closed . . . and then 10 days to move out. I'm looking forward to being in my new house. I just have to find some dry wood to burn because it's raining on my wood now. I plan to remedy that when I get there. I put the stove in the interior corner of the living room where I can enjoy the flames from there or the kitchen and it's in the very middle of the house (when it's installed).

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

I don't know, I think a competent shop would have worked with the builder for a overall budget for the project. Dealers rarely sell stoves without asking some questions. Builders typically would provide plans for an approximation until a final quote based on actual construction. $1500 is pretty typical of a one story construction 4/12 pitch. Ultimately, its up to the builder/dealer to work out the details so the homeowner doesn't have things to stress about, thats what they pay us for! Someone dropped the ball on this one...

 

[jillybeansisme]

I fully agree with you, Mountain Stove Guy. I think that's one of the reasons the Builder said he'd take care of it. It wasn't my job. The construction is two story with 8:12 pitch roof. I'm building long distance, otherwise I'd be more on top of it. The pictures I'm getting are good. I know enough that I'm getting a good job. My last build was a nightmare and this one has been a dream. I do expect a few glitches (didn't expect the front door to be 6 weeks late though). Fortunately, I can bend with the glitches for the most part (like when the Building Department would not allow the retaining wall near the oak trees, so we added it to the foundation -- loved that option more than the original!). That change order was not my fault. I've only asked for one change and that was long before needed -- faucets in Master Bath went to a different finish. I've made decisions promptly, which makes Builders very happy. So I'm guessing that's part of why my Builder is telling me to not worry about it.

 

[MountainStoveGuy]

My estimation included labor, so that sounds about right for your amount of chimney. Good luck with the rest of your project!