How Costly Is a Stone Fireplace & Chimney?

Cost of the Stone

• Unless you happen to have access to a river or creek where you can get the stone for free, you are going to need to buy the stone from a local quarry or manufacturer. The prices on stone range wildly, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,000 to several thousands of dollars for the amount of stone you need to finish your fireplace. As of 2011, the cost of stone ranges between $5 and $25 per square foot, depending on what type you want.

Cost of the Labor

• While labor costs will fluctuate depending on where in the nation you are hiring your professional, as of this writing, you can expect to pay between $40 and $60 per hour for a contractor with the professional skills necessary to complete this complex task. You don’t want an inexperienced mason doing the work -- and just like skilled doctors cost a lot of money, so do skilled craftsmen who have the training.

Engineering

• While small-scale projects can be accomplished without regard to structural integrity, with large fireplaces and chimneys, you have to worry about the weight of the stone along with the rest of your home. Your stonemason will be able to steer you in the right direction, but hiring a structural engineer is going to be a requirement. As you should for any other skilled professional with the proper experience, expect to pay between $40 and $60 per hour, depending on the engineer you decide to work with.

Sand and Cement

• You also need to purchase large quantities of sand and cement to complete the task. Sand will range from $35 to $50 per cubic yard as of 2011, and cement runs around $8 to $10 dollars per 80-pound bag. The exact ratio of sand to cement will vary based upon the contractor’s preference, but you will have to pay for this above and beyond the stone.