My wife and I are renovating our home, and one part of the project is replacing our current fireplace with an insert. We got a quote that totals around $12K, with $2500 allocated just for the demolition and $3000 for the installation. I find it strange that the demo and installation costs are so close, especially since our fireplace is pretty basic with just a mantel and some tiles. I'm questioning if $2500 for the demo is typical. If this price is common, I might just opt to handle the demo myself. I would share a picture of the current setup, but I'm not sure how to do that here.
4 Answers
This price might mean they don’t really want the job. You should definitely get at least three quotes for a project this size. It's smart considering this is your 5th option that quoted you. Take your time and compare!
That price does seem a bit high. Without details on whether there's a gas line or electrical work needed, it’s hard to compare, but in my experience, I’ve paid around $1K for small demo jobs. I did my fireplace insert for about $4K, and part of the cost was running the pipes through the chimney. Your quoted demo price looks steep to me!
I'd suggest sharing the quote (with personal info hidden) to get better feedback. As for the market rate on demo, it could be reasonable. Just ensure your demo matches the scope that they’ve outlined. And if you want to share images, check out sites like imgbb to upload your pics!
If there’s already a gas line and you’re only dealing with a simple wood mantel and about 8 sqft of tile, I’d say doing it yourself could save you a lot. Just make sure you know what the contractor included in their demo scope.