Remodel quotes span an order of magnitude because ‘remodel’ spans a paint weekend and a small construction project. The tiers, with what moves each:
Tier 1: the refresh
Paint or limewash on sound brick, new mantel, updated glass doors or screen, low four figures, one-to-three days, and the highest percentage transformation per dollar in the book, the budget champion. Moves with: mantel material (stock beam vs custom), door quality, and prep condition.
Tier 2: the re-face
New surround material over the firebox wall, large-format tile, stacked stone veneer, shiplap-and-stone combinations, typically with hearth updates and mantel. The mainstream remodel: mid four figures to low fives depending overwhelmingly on material (ceramic tile vs natural limestone spans 4× on the same square footage) and height (mantel-height vs floor-to-ceiling roughly doubles area).
Tier 3: the transformation
Full-height natural stone, rebuilt or extended hearths, flanking built-ins, TV integration with proper clearances, structural changes to the opening. Low-to-mid five figures as scope compounds, this tier is carpentry + masonry + design coordination, and it’s where single-crew accountability (us) beats the three-contractor shuffle on both price and finger-pointing.