Surprising cost of rebuilding to a gas fireplace

16 years ago

Hi, we are rebuilding a house in the SF bay area. Our house has a old 70s woodburning fireplace that is brick and stone from floor to ceiling. Having learned so much about the benefits of gas burning fireplace on this forum, we decided to convert to a gas insert with a limestone slap to replace the old cultured stone. But once the contractors ripped out the stone, they said the bricks were already cracking. They suggest we demolish the whole thing, create a wood frame, then build a real gas burning fireplace with no raised hearth. Sounds nice, right?

The problem is the cost is kind of crazy. The Heat'n'Glow fireplace will cost $3k+. The contractors want $7k for the job of demolishing and rebuild. Then on top of that, I need to buy the slap and pay someone to finish it, too.

My question is, based on your experience, am I being gamed here? Or it does cost this much?

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Comment (1)

SeattlePioneer
16 years ago
Get another opinion.

Generally speaking, a gas log set places a LOT less stress on a fireplace than a wood fire does--- a woodfire produces a LOT more heat, is a lot hotter and puts that heat right on top of the firebrick. It also produces a lot more combustion gasses to vent.

A gas log set put relatively little heat on the firebrick.

So I'd look around for another installer for an opinion. I'd be surpised if you needed to replace or rebuild your fireplace ---but surprising things do happen.

With a masonry fireplace, even if there are some cracks, I'd expect they could be patched with little trouble in most cases.

Perhaps you should look for a mason who builds and repairs fireplaces.
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