My wife is anxious to get my stove install mess cleaned out of the living room, and I don't have the pipe yet. I also can't set the hearth board until I have the insert in there. If I go ahead and put the insert in I will have 8" of working room. Is this enough to work around in there when installing liner? As far as running the pipe I can't forsee needing to pull it as my chimney is 18x18 and a straight shot down. What would you guys do? We have company coming for Thanksgiving so she is getting ansy.