Advice on installing a chimney plz 🙏

[u/RobRobRobin42]

So, my husband and I bought a new wood cook stove. We need to install a chimney for it. We watched a lot of YouTube videos and are pretty confident we can do it ourselves, we are quite handy. We went to a local hardware store and priced out the components for the chimney. It's pretty straightforward. Above the room is the attic, so just stove pipe in the living room, chimney straight up through the attic and the roof. Let's say the components at the hardware store were under $2k

We had a local installer company come in to give us a quote. Their quote was upwards of 8k for componants and labour. 5-6k for the chimney components alone. They will come back and do a Wett Certification if we end up doing it ourselves.

One thing that is sketching me out is that the fireproof pad they would install under the stove cost $850, meanwhile I can buy it at the manufacturer in the $400 range.

Can anyone give me an insight of the difference between the chimney components we would buy at say, Kent Building supplies vs what the professionals would install? What makes their product worth more than double? I understand the company has somewhat of a mark-up, but jeez...

I was hoping to spend part of our budget on hiring someone to take down a load bearing wall ( I have the quote for this and it's reasonable) I just didnt want to spend 8k on the chimney alone. Seems crazy to me.

[u/Upper-Razzmatazz176]

I bought triple wall stainless steel by Duravent. It comes with the exact install instructions. Just make sure you size it right for your woodstove.

You will get a cheaper galvanized chimney and probably 10k more in charges paying for it.

[u/RobRobRobin42 → u/Upper-Razzmatazz176]

Were you able to have it Wett Certified?

[u/Upper-Razzmatazz176 → u/RobRobRobin42]

I just had a permit and it passed inspection. The insurance company told me it was insured as well but then later told me it has to be installed by certified technician AFTER he told me it didn’t. And tbh idk if he even was making the effort to find the true answer but I’m going to look into it.

[u/Edosil]

A lot of stove installers use products you don't buy at the box stores, ICC Excel is one example. They also have upcharges on the products they install

[u/Icy_Signature6316]

I paid 3k for a chimney (duravent) replacement and installation for our wood stove in October 2024. The hole through the roof was already there but everything else was replaced. The up charge for that pad sound about right. Just buy one yourself or better yet, tile the floor!

[u/Hexium239]

I installed a chimney liner on my own. As well as breaking all the clay in my chimney to fit the liner. My insurance company was fine with me doing it myself. No inspection needed. I install a lot of stainless chimneys for clients. I’m not a certified sweep, but I operate a general contracting company and I’m insured. I usually mark up material prices. As do others who do this sort of work. Anyone handy with tools, a small bit of math, and patience can install a stainless chimney. If you folks are confident and your insurance company is okay with it, go for it. You’ll save a lot of money. Have it inspected after to be on the safe side.

[u/RobRobRobin42 → u/Hexium239]

Thank you, this is how I feel as well. I am definitely confident we can do it. I already called the insurance company about changing to wood heating but I will call again to make sure of any specific requirements.

[u/ApprehensiveRoad2471]

I have a few questions for you to think about, are you sure you are looking at the correct type of hearthpad? Does your stove need Type 1 or Type 2 floor protection? Is the stove in place or will it need to be moved (may be very difficult) Will you be able to maintain proper clearances to the stove pipe where you are electing to put the stove? Are you confident you can position the chimney correctly to avoid having to cut rafters or joists? Don’t forget to shield the pipe from insulation in your attic.

[u/RobRobRobin42 → u/ApprehensiveRoad2471]

Great Questions! Yes, I had the company go through and do a very thorough assessment. I followed them around and asked all the questions. They were very happy to explain everything, and they were figuring out all of this, which I now have in writing in the form of their estimate. They were checking all the clearances, etc, in the manual that came with the stove.

[u/jgarcya]

Get an insulated pipe where it goes through the roof... Make sure the chimney is at least three feet higher than the highest point of your roof... Make sure you cut your hole with extra room around your pipe.

For the stove base... It just needs to be fire proof ... Simplest hack... Use hardibacker cement board under the stove, and on the walls behind it... It is fire proof... It will burn the surface, but not ignite.( I use this on my bench in glass blowing)

For fancy permanent design... A nice flagstone base mortared in would look nice.. any ceramic tile or stone works too.

The base needs to be bigger than your stove, because embers spark and jump out on occasion.

[u/hunterinwild]

The dicey part is making sure that there's no leak in the roof afterwards I had seen professionally installed that let water inside the house

[u/jerry111165]

Material markup is just another way for a business to make money.

[u/newport62]

You need to do a side by side comparison of parts. What is the chimeny rated for in heat. If you are looking at 900 degree pipe, and the company quoted you for 1200 degree pipe, there is a huge price difference. What type of material are you looking at steel, or stainless, if stainless, what type of stainless.

On the hearth, you need to consider shipping. I looked at several companies that had them cheap online, but then dinged you hard on the shipping doubling the price they advertised.

[u/RobRobRobin42 → u/newport62]

Oh, I never thought to check the shipping price, thanks!

[u/RobRobRobin42]

Good point, I should really find out what is required by my insurance company. Thank you!