Fair price? on liner and thimble?

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Born Of Fire

New Member
Hearth Supporter
Sep 24, 2009
24
Hudson Valley NY
Just got a estimate from a sweep they are looking to install about 22 feet of Forever Flex 316 Ti and a stainless steel insulated double wall pipe thimble.They want 1,400. your thoughts?
 
How handy are you? Lots of people here have done their own liner install. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, call around for a couple more quotes.
 
(broken link removed to http://chimneysweeponline.com/foreverflex.htm)

The Chimney Sweep lists a kit of 30' of 6" at $615. So, now the question is the job worth paying somebody else almost $800 to do it for you? How easy would it be to reach the top of your chimney? Are you uncomfortable with heights? Can you bribe a buddy with a few beers to go up while you tug from below? Will additional tools like a lift be needed to do this job safely?

Matt
 
The above kit doesn't look like it is insulated. Are they planning to insulate it? Apples to apples and all that.

Matt
 
Thanks for the responses.
1 The chimney is accessible via extension ladder Yes Iam ok with heights and I can get a hand if needed

2 They did not mention whether they would insulate liner is insulation around liner recommended ?

3 As far as the existing clay liner I believe the sweep said they would leave it the way it is and not remove it.Does this sound kosher?

After reading the provided link it seems easy enough the one thing that seems I may have a problem with is removing existing clay thimble without damaging cultured stone.
 
A warm chimney doesn't allow flue gasses to condense as easily on it's walls. This can help lower creosote and give you a better draft. An exterior masonry chimney doesn't have the house around it to insulate it. The amount of surface area keeps it cool. Since the chimney is lined with clay tiles I don't believe it is code to have insulation, but I think it's a darn good idea. I'd keep the tiles in it also. Thermal mass and all that.

How large is the ID of the thimble? I'd be surprised if you have to take it out. If you do, can an angle grinder get to it.
 
Thimble is 8 inches
Sweep said was not properly installed thru combustible wall some brick surrounds it but he said mostly high temp mortar is holding it in place and is not completely sealed around thimble in wall
 
It should be noted that the original bid included an insulated stainless thimble kit. Our ITK consists of an 18" length of 6" HT chimney, a trim collar, a flue extender and an end cap, all of which comes to about $140.00. Since most chimneys aren't built to code, there's at least some likelihood that insulation is required here, and that would have been included in the bid as well. The job will also involve chipping out the existing clay thimble, as a 6" ITK won't fit through an 8" thimble opening. Our service dept. would bid the job something like this:

1) Forever Flex 6 x 25 Tee Liner Kit... $540.00
1) 25' Super Wrap Insulation Kit... $295.00
1) Insulated Stainless Thimble Kit... $140.00
1) Labor, chip out thimble, install Liner, Insulation, Thimble Kit... $400.00
1) Sales Tax @8.5%... $116.88
1) Permit Fee... $55.00

Bid Total: $1546.88

Ask your installers if their bid includes insulation, sales tax and permit fees. If it does, you're getting a pretty good deal.

Even if they're not including sales tax and permit fees, you're getting a fair deal for an insulated liner installation.

If they're not including insulation either, they're making good money on the labor. Not knowing the prevailing wage in your neighborhood, or having seen the job, there may be reasons for this as well.

I'd recommend you discuss all this with the bidding company before you decide how to proceed.
 
My vote is way too much! My wife and I installed ours for about a third of that with acomplete kit shipped to our door from Rockford chimmney supply. Not too difficult to do-getting it on the roof and in the flue is the hardest part.
 
Thanks guys for all your responses still shopping around with sweeps also kinda mulling over doing it myself the liner part seems simple enough its the thimble thru the wall I am concerned about does it require much masonry work?I would also need to remove a existing clay thimble
 
Any way you could post pics of the chimney/roof, thimble, and hearth area?


Matt
 
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