Wood burning stove inside historic fireplace?

Shopping around is often the mistake a homeowner makes. If you call three contractors who have been doing something for 25 years and they say one thing and offer a high price, that is where the job should be. If someone shops enough and learns a little and can push the wrong bottom feeding contractor (as i tried asking if the stove flue can be stuck 3′ up the existing flue), they will manipulate the contractor into doing something that should not be done and that contractor will not convey the risks, if he even knows them. Contractors who fall into this should not be doing the specialty they are doing. They are handymen or opportunists.

I have noticed that people on here assume that the shoddy work was always out there and this is the way it is and has been and we have to accept it. There was a time that you called a contractor who told you what had to be done and he was correct. We are not that removed from that. If people learn how to avoid the bottom feeders, they will have less trouble.

I know, the temptation of a low price or saving money is attractive . But with this and many other things, things we might consider luxuries, if the homeowner cannot do them correctly and safely, they should not be doing them at all.

I keep saying this here, i worked in lower management for a professional property management firm and for commercial buildings in nyc. We did not make the mistakes that i read about here and when i read what you said, i realize why we did not make those mistakes. If you shop around for something, that is the mistake.

Raise the bar urbandad. It will be good for everyone, the homeowners, the contractors, the kid walking down the street, the city.