I think you need a local expert who can look at your situation first hand. I have a bumped out dxv 45. The space I bumped it into was a deck with 2x10 stringers and a 2x6 deck. No reinforcement was needed, even with cultured stone going up 24 feet. The fire place isnt' that heavy--shipping weight is only 250 lbs., but if you want to face the inside or out with natural stone, the area will probably need re-inforcement. If the bump out is near ground level, it won't be hard to lay a small cement pad for the FP. If you are inclined to finish it with tile or cultured stone I think there's a good possibility that a cantilever will work. Side note: I'm having big issues with my 45. It just doesn't look right. The flames are too uniform, and barely peak up between the logs. My two mendota 42s are tremendous, everything I hoped for and more. I'm starting to suspect that the 45 has something wrong, like a pressure regulator that isn't letting in enough gas. Oh, another thing to remember: for a good burn, you can't go straight out the back with the vent pipe [even though the pics on the website makes it look like you can]. Especially if you are at a higher elevation, the vent needs some vertical rise for a good 'draw' of air. Try and get a sense of how much experience your dealer has with these units, and judge his advice accordingly.

I'm a compulsive shopper. I way way way way way overthink any purchase of more than $100, and I live in terror of not getting the best deal possible. I have been known to waste $5 in gas to save $1 in groceries. So when, like many homeowners, I was caught last Winter with my pants down and heating oil $4/gallon, I started wishing I had something else. We don't have a good spot for a stove, which would have been my 1st choice, but we did have a wonderful masonary fireplace/air conditioner so we decided to go that route. So I started to do my homework to pick the "best" insert for my fireplace. I wanted ease of install, plain black w/ no frills, STEEL FIREBOX, the most glass. I narrowed it down to two: PE Summit and Lopi Freedom (I found the Regency dealer too late). After figuring the demensions and installation constraints I realized the Summit wasn't going to fit easily, and that I'd have to do som major demo to get it to fit. I wanted the biggest firebox I could get. I also wanted the option to completely flush mount the unit, and that was something the Lopi would allow me to do. I went with the Freedom,(not the bay I swear those things look so gawdy in the pictures). It was more when factored on a price/cubic ft of firebox but I really wanted the largest firebox I could get. Larger firebox=more heat right? Well, yes and no. You can get more heat but you may not want it. My insert is in a room about 300sqft, and at a perpetual 80 degrees. The rest of the main floor of the home fluctuates between 65 and 72, depending on how long I'm burning hot and how many fans I have blowing. I expected this. I think I could've easily gone with a smaller insert, because save for 1 overnight burn I'm tending the fire every 2 hours anyway, so I could just as easily toss in more wood at that time. Also, I did the survey/install myself. An experienced dealer may have known from experience whether a larger Regency (in hindsight my fist pic) or PE Summit would have fit, but I was hung up on flush-mounting the stove into the hearth. I love the stove. Its a quality/lifetime item. The large glass is great, and I don't miss the hearth at all. It stays clean with dry wood, and if I choke it down and it gets dirty I run it hot the next morning and it burns right off. I'm buring my own wood from my land. If you have to buy wood I'd suggest you get a pellet stove. This being said, to do it again I'd get the mid-size Regency or PE. Afte all the concern of wanting to flush-mount the insert (little ones) we mounted it forward, so we could have a stovetop. It was the right decision, and when the power went out for 7 days it was a really really good decision. I can't move all the heat this stove puts out, and the other ones are just as good and cheaper. The regency is close to the same insert, and the blower is standard on their unit. My friend has the mid-size Regency, and he saved $500 over what I paid, which is like getting free installation. DO NOT BOTHER WITH AN INSERT IF YOU DON'T GET THE BLOWER. Trust me, you'll be disappointed and you're wasting your money.

Hard to say what makes sense for you. I can tell you what makes sense for me. I commented on each of the items you mentioned. Hope it helps. - Finished Basement $52,500 - I have no idea how much it would be to do this later. This is a lot of money, but may be worth it to do it now. - Upgrade to 10' ceiling height on main floor $9,500 (standard is 9' ceiling) - 10' are super nice (that's what we are going with in our build), but 9' are nice as well (that's what we have in current home). So if cost is an issue, skip this one. - Ground Floor Double Door Entrance $760 - matter of taste. I'd probably skip this one. - Garage door opener with one remote $740 each - I'd say that's imperative! How can you be without a remote for the garage?! - Keypad for garage door opener $150 each - Also a must in my opinion. - Rough-In 2nd Floor Alarm - All Windows and Doors $160 - I would also do this one. - Rough-In 2nd Floor Keypad $30 each - I would do one in the master bedroom (which we did in the old house and in the new build), because you want to be able to turn on the alarm without having to go downstairs in the middle of the night. - Reinforce ceiling fixture for future fan/fixture $150 each - nice value, but since I don't care for ceiling fans, it will depend on your preference. - Upgrade to 200 amp service $1,000 each (standard is 100 amp) - I have no idea. - Complete valance lighting c/w switch $750 each - also no idea - Wall sconce rough-in c/w switch $240 each - as opposed to what and where? - Wall sconce rough-in on mirror c/w switch $300 each - bathroom? What's there standard? - Exterior soffit potlights $450 each - your preference - Recessed shower light c/w switch $290 each - I would do this one. I hate dark showers. It makes no sense to have light just in the bathroom, and a dark tub/shower area after you close the curtain. In my city it is code to have a light in the shower or tub. - Smooth ceiling (2nd Floor throughout) $1,590 (first floor smooth ceiling comes standard) - good grief, do not allow popcorn ceiling (if that's the standard). Think about the cost to remove it and refinish it later. Yikes. - Upgrade from standard round column to square drywall column with trim to match house - half column $440 each - your personal taste - Upgrade to 10mm Frameless Shower Enclosure - M Ensuite $3,060 - very nice option, but it is a budget thing. - Upgrade from Bath Tub to Frameless Shower Enclosure - Ensuite #2 $1,850 would not do this. - Upgrade from Bath Tub to 10mm Frameless Shower Enclosure - Main Bath $1,850 - would not do this - Upgrade from 5' Bath Tub to 5' Shower (no door) $1,400 - I'd keep the bath tub and the shower separate in the master suite. If this is in the other bathroom, I would keep the bath/shower combo. - Extra sink and single lever faucet in ensuite $725 each - double sinks is a must in the master. Trust me. - Whirlpool Upgrade in lieu of Corner or Oval Tub - 8 Jets $1,475 each - how much do you really think you would the whirlpool? Cleaning of each jet in there, think about it. I would not do this, but it depends on your preference. - Waterline for ice-maker $250 each - to the fridge? It's a must. - Upgrade Kitchen exhaust fan vent to 8" vent $470 - I have no idea - Rough-in gas line for BBQ/pool $665 each - do you BBQ? - Rough-in gas line for stove/range $665 each - what is standard, electric? What kind of cooktop do you want? If it is induction, check the volt/ampere needed for that, and make sure they install the correct one. I added a 60 amp one on mine. - Additional standard fireplace - 1st floor $4,450 - where would that be? Is one enough? - Additional standard fireplace - 2nd floor $4,800 - would not do it, but I live in Texas, not Canada..... - Blower heater fan $620 each - no idea - Fireplace remote control $250 each - not sure it's necessary.

We do use the fireplace regularly. We're going to go with a slate slab (thank you everyone) that the contractor is going to try to recess. Even if it can't be recessed the only reason to walk into that area is to access the fireplace so hopefully it won't be too much of a problem. I've gone back and forth about wood in the kitchen because it would eliminate the problem with the fireplace hearth. But, the wood would blend much better with the rest of the house, especially since we entertain in the kitchen as much as in the living/dining room. I like the feeling of wood under my feet more than tile and the tile would also have to work with the slate entry. I could do slate throughout, but the cost is a bit much. Thank you everyone.