Installing the Stoll fireplace is simple, you just level it and tighten some retaining bolts. However, in order for someone to install it for you, they would have to make sure every facet of the fireplace and chimney is in tip top shape. That's why the price may seem high. The chamber tech 2000 leads me to believe the smoke shelf is in poor condition. When the smoke shelf is in poor condition, it usually means the flue is in poor condition. Are they proposing a installing a new stainless steel chimney liner? If so you could expect to see a bid in the area of 6 to 8 thousand dollars. If you go with a high efficient wood burning insert you could easily cut that cost in half. You can also get up to $300.00 back on your taxes with this years EPA wood burning stove tax credit.

Hi, thank you Rockford and akamainegrower for your replies.

Hopefully this will be a bit more clear.

There are two vertical
cracks in the flue liner and a vertical in the second liner. The cap is completely blocked by
creosote.

Evaluation and repair
options: There is evidence of a sudden occurrence event, chimney fire, present.
The first option for an open fireplace without replacing a woodstove, to repair
the flue liners with Heatshield™ cerfractory system to seal the liner and the
joints in the damaged chimney.

Any of the remaining
glaze deposits will be scoured by the ro-clean method to prepare for the new
system. We will remove any protrusions in the flue liners to allow for
installation of the new system. Access through the masonry firebox to the smoke
chamber may require the removal of the firebrick and damper assembly. All entry
points will be repaired. We will install Heatshield® cerfractory sealant
material to restore the flue liner in the fireplace. This system will allow for
use as a fireplace. The smoke chamber will be coated with cerfractory foam.
This system necessitates a curing period. Please see the following links for
details at HeatShield. The Heatshield™ product carries a twenty year warranty
from the manufacturer. All work will be done in a neat and orderly manner. Any
additional work desired will be quoted as a separate

Materials:
Heatshield™cerfractory sealant materials,chemical cleaner, Chamber Tech,
cerfractory foam, sand, mortar, portland cement, etc.

Labor and
freight,masonry and total installation of system

Glass enclosures-
standard , installed

There are other flue lining systems besides the Heatshield one. These include stainless steel liners and poured in place liners such as Supaflu. If you are concerned about cost, bids from other chimney restoration companies would be a good idea.

Any method of chimney flue relining for a traditional fireplace is going to be costly. A lot of work is needed in order for them to tell you it is perfectly safe to light a fire. The Heat Champion looks good on paper. However, the price seems high for a little extra heat out of your fireplace.

Why is it that no one suggests a masonry heater? You get the best of both worlds, the efficiency of a closed burn chamber and the beauty of a traditional fireplace. It sounds like the existing FP is going to have open heart surgery anyway, so go ahead and make it the ultimate wood burning appliance. The chimney will have to be repaired either way, and a SS flue works excellently with a Masonry Heater. kkid77, take a few moments to check out the MHA-net.org website and look at the list of members. Perhaps you will have a Masonry Heater builder near you that can quote this option. There are functional Masonry Heaters over two hundred years old in parts of Europe.

Thanks for everyone's feedback. I will do some research.