How do I compare fireplace quotes from different companies?
Compare scope, not just the bottom line. Make sure each quote covers the same appliance, the same venting, the gas line, the permit, and the same warranty — and that whoever's connecting the fuel is a licensed gas contractor. The cheapest number usually wins by leaving the permit or the gas line off, which is exactly where the real cost hides.
Put them side by side, apples to apples
The trap in comparing quotes is that they rarely describe the same job. One bid might be for a premium direct-vent unit with the gas line run and a permit pulled; another might be a cheaper firebox with 'gas connection by others' buried in the fine print. On paper the second looks like a deal until you add the missing pieces.
Line the quotes up by their parts — appliance model, venting, gas line, permit, inspection, removal, warranty. When they're described the same way, the honest price differences show up. When they aren't, you're comparing a whole job to half of one.
The licensing line is the one that matters most
In NC, running or extending a gas line is licensed work, and it's the part unqualified bidders quietly skip. A mason, a handyman, or a general contractor can set a beautiful firebox but legally cannot connect it to fuel — so a low quote from one of them often means you're still on the hook to find, and pay, a licensed gas contractor separately.
Ask every company outright: are you a licensed gas contractor, and does this price include pulling the permit and meeting the county inspector? We are, and it does. That single question sorts real quotes from partial ones fast.
Signs a low number will cost you more
Be wary of a bid with no model number, no permit line, or vague 'gas hookup extra' language. Those aren't savings — they're deferred costs and deferred accountability. So is a quote that skips removing your old unit or omits the workmanship guarantee.
The right question isn't 'who's cheapest,' it's 'who's covering the whole job and standing behind it.' A slightly higher all-in quote from one accountable company usually beats a lowball you have to complete yourself. Call (828) 545-0525 if you want a second set of eyes on a bid.
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