Fireplace inserts fitted by local pros in Lake Fredrica

Angled side walls and a narrow back wall

Many masonry fireboxes narrow toward the back and lean forward near the top, a shape meant to throw heat from an open fire into the room. An insert body is a rectangle, so those angles decide how deep it can sit and whether its top passes under the throat.

When the back is too narrow for a full-depth fit, some models are made to sit partly forward on the hearth, which then changes the floor protection they need. We sketch the outline of your firebox during the inspection and hold it against the manual's minimum widths so the unit ends up square, level and supported.

Can an existing liner be reused

A liner already in the chimney may or may not suit a new insert. It must be the size the new manual asks for, be a type the new maker accepts, be in sound condition and connect properly to the new collar.

We check an existing liner's size and condition from the top and the bottom, and we say plainly whether it can stay. If it cannot, the estimate explains why, rather than quoting a new liner as a default.

How an insert estimate should read

A clear insert estimate separates the unit, the liner and its connector, the top plate and cap, the surround, any hearth extension, any fireplace repairs, any electrical work by an electrician and the removal of old parts.

Every line carries upfront pricing with no hidden fees, so you can see where the money goes and compare our proposal fairly with anyone else's. Book within 72 hours after the inspection and 10% off is applied right on the estimate.

• Insert model and surround size
• Liner type, size and length
• Top plate, rain cap and any cap change
• Hearth or floor protection work
• Repairs found at the inspection
• Removal and haul-away of old parts

Why the fireplace is measured before you buy

Buying an insert before the fireplace is measured is the quickest route to a unit that sits on the hearth waiting for a solution. Minimum fireplace size, chimney height, flue size and clearances all need checking against your fireplace first.

The free inspection does that checking. You can buy the unit knowing it fits and knowing what its installation will involve, or ask us to supply it as part of the job. Either way, the model is confirmed before the money is spent.