Summit, I just want to make sure we're talking about the same stove before I use your remedy with either him or someone else? or maybe before a judge. It's a Vermont Castings Montpelier Wood Insert...reason I wan to make sure, I didn't see any wheels on it...are they removable? They put a tarp on the hearth stone and slid it all the way inside first....., then you're right, they tried to make the liner align with the top of the stove by rotating it, one way then the other...for about two hours till they apparently said they'd had enough and decided to just cover it up. Then it really isn't an issue that there's only about 1 1/2" of clearance above the stove, it would have already been installed and you wouldn't need your hands to get in there to connect anything...and I don't need to have the mason come back and lower the hearth.....right?....thanks..