“Build me a chimney” quotes range so widely because the phrase covers two construction philosophies. Sorting them first makes every number make sense:
Path 1: framed chase + factory-built system
The modern default: a wood-framed, sided (or stone-veneered) chase enclosing a listed Class-A chimney serving a factory-built firebox. Why it dominates: lighter (often no new footing), faster (days-to-weeks), and dramatically cheaper than masonry while delivering the full fireplace experience. What drives its price: chase height (one story vs two), the veneer finish (siding cheap, stone real money), and the chase cover and cap done right, in stainless, please, we’ve written about the alternative.
Path 2: full masonry construction
The generational version: engineered concrete footing, block or brick structure, clay flue tiles, firebox masonry, a proper crown. Why people still choose it: permanence measured in generations, thermal mass, authentic presence, and value on architecture-forward homes. What drives its price: the footing (real excavation and concrete, especially on our expansive clay, where engineering matters), height and brick selection, and skilled-mason weeks rather than crew days. Expect a multiple of Path 1, honestly quoted, that’s just what masonry is.