Outdoor Fireplace Design: A Great Backyard Is Within Reach

Outdoor rooms take a bit of forethought. Size of the backyard, budget and what you want to achieve once your outdoor room is complete are all factors that go into the design and functionality of your outdoor space. By using an outdoor fireplace in your design, you are getting a lot more than just a heat source.

Outdoor fireplaces are gaining in popularity as more and more people are expanding their living spaces to include their backyard. Spending all that time, energy and money to make a wonderful living room in the great outdoors, it seems a shame to only get to use it for a limited time each year. With a fireplace you can extend your outdoor enjoyment long after the neighbors have gone back inside for the season. Using the warmth generated, you can snuggle in for the long haul, do yard work or just relax in front of the flames, you will stay warm even on those chilly fall days. Entertain longer into the fall season as well, as the fireplace becomes a central point in the backyard for friends and family to gather. No matter how you use your backyard, it can be enhanced with a fire.

The design of the outdoor fireplace is mostly up to you. There are many different styles to choose from, some being self-contained, some fire pits, and some that have added water features for a two-for-one punch. Combining your outdoor water feature with a fireplace not only saves room if you have a small outdoor space, but also makes an interesting focal point to any decor. Fireplaces can be built from many different rocks and stones, so you are ensured that they will last for years to come without losing any of their natural beauty.

Outdoor fireplaces can be used anywhere in a backyard. They must be ten feet away from any other structure for safety purposes, but can be part of a living room area, part of an outdoor kitchen area or just free-standing in any part of the yard. Some people like to use their fireplace as a cooking surface, and with the addition of a grill you can cook just about anything. Some double as pizza ovens which are great additions to that outdoor kitchen and will deliver delicious pies time after time, made the old-fashioned way.

Outdoor fireplace design need not be intimidating. There are professionals that will listen and help you make the right decision for your home. You will be amazed at the backyard transformation that you create, with the addition of an awesome focal point.

Build Your Own Outdoor Fireplace - Part 2

You've done your initial leg work with figuring out where you want to position your outdoor fireplace. You've made sure you could legally construct one and that your home owner association approves. You've checked for underground obstructions and you feel as if you have a location that will be safe with regard to fire danger. Decisions from this point might be the most important and certainly are more fun because they involve the actual design of your fireplace.

Chances are you have gone online and have perused the abundance of outdoor fireplace pictures. There are so many different and unique designs and chances are you have found one or two that you could envision in your backyard. Every person's taste is a little different so a good idea would be to print pictures of the fireplaces you like and make a list of features from each that you want incorporated into your design. Do you want a quaint fireplace or a massive structure? Do you want a mantel or shelf? Do you want built in seating? Do you like the squared or arched firebox opening? It seems the questions concerning outdoor fireplace design never stop.

Once you have figured out what overall shape and structural features you want your fireplace to have, you will need to give some thought to finishing themes. Some examples are brick, faux stone, tile, stucco, paint, flagstone, etc... More considerations will be whether you want lighting on your fireplace and whether you will burn wood or natural gas. You definitely need to take these things into consideration before starting your fireplace construction to make sure everything goes as smooth as possible. The last thing you want to do is de-construct your project because you forgot or decided later to add the gas line or electrical line for lights. You'll be happier if you plan for everything ahead of time.

There are many building materials available and some are much easier to use than others when constructing your fireplace. Prefabricated firebox kits are also available that make the project simple in some aspects. They also provide a professional look but can be rather expensive. For the overall construction, you can build with wood, metal framing, and/or cinder block. Block construction seems to be the most widely used method of construction for outdoor fireplaces as you "stack them" to achieve your final design. Obviously, it is more complicated than simply stacking blocks as mortar is used and block cutting may be necessary. Block is, however, very sturdy and chances are the fireplace will outlive you. When building an outdoor fireplace with block you can construct the firebox as the fireplace is being built. In essence, the firebox becomes part of the main fireplace structure. This way of building will take some of the cost away from having to purchase a prefabricated firebox kit.

Build Your Own Outdoor Fireplace - Part 1

You sit in your backyard in a comfortable chair with your feet propped up on the flagstone seating of your own outdoor fireplace. The crackle of the burning wood and the kids trying to obtain the perfect roast on their marshmallows brings you back to your childhood at the campground. The flickering flame produces a warmth not allowing your feet to feel the chill of the evening. This can be a reality if you ever thought about building your very own outdoor fireplace. If you are a handy person and feel like you are capable of building it yourself, you could be enjoying your very own outdoor fireplace soon. Whether you've given a fireplace much thought or not, there are lots of decisions to be made. So many things need to be thought of so the following paragraphs will guide you through a few of the things that need to be addressed.

Where in your backyard do you want to construct your fireplace? Before you answer that question with certainty, step back and take a good look at your entire yard. By doing this you may eliminate many areas quickly for fire danger reasons. Think about which way the wind blows most of the time and imagine embers leaving your chimney in that direction. What is in the direct path? The biggest concern will be shrubs, grass, and trees that may be dry in different seasons. You probably don't want the fireplace to be within 10-15 feet of a mature tree with lots of dry leaves still on it.

Do you have a place that will offer plenty of seating? This fireplace may become the congregation point for parties and you will want enough room for your guests. Search online for outdoor fireplace pictures and you'll see that most have lots of vacant space in front of them. You may want to make sure there are no utility lines such as electrical, water, gas, irrigation, or sewer buried where you anticipate building. The last thing you want to worry about is having to destroy your fireplace to repair damaged utility lines down the road.

Do you have the tools necessary for building your own fireplace? The right tools will definitely bring a bit of ease to your building project. You will need various tools such as a trowel, buckets, a hose, block cutting tools, a level and it seems the list keeps going. If you don't own these tools and others not listed above, don't worry. Reach out to friends, family, and neighbors for the possibility of borrowing them. If you still need some tools afterwards don't buy the expensive ones as even the cheap tools should survive the fireplace build. Some tools such as block cutting saws can be rented from your local tool rent shop or home improvement as well if they're needed. They tend to be very expensive to purchase and most people don't town them because they are specialize tools.

Many neighborhoods around the country as well as local building codes prohibit outdoor fireplaces or they require submitting plans before construction. This has almost become the norm in newer neighborhoods with home owner associations. Many times if your plans and/or sketches show that you have given some thought to the fireplace structure with regard to the final look, to include dimensions and whether it will match the existing décor, the plans will be approved. Home owner associations will look more at the aesthetics of the fireplace and local building codes will deal more with safety concerns such as structure height and the fire within.

If you plan your outdoor fireplace accordingly and don't rush into it, you will be able to build a beautiful structure that will be the talk to the neighborhood.

Get More Outdoor Fun With Outdoor Fireplaces

Since its introduction, fireplaces were intended to solely provide heat inside the house. As years pass, however, designs for fireplaces have upgraded making them suitable for outdoor use. Outdoor fireplaces are just as efficient as that of indoor fireplaces in producing heat. The aesthetic attraction of these fireplaces is also not sacrificed because of its diverse designs and styles.

Outdoor fireplaces have allowed the extension of living rooms from inside the house to the outside. Homeowners can now entertain more guests in the yard and welcome them with the same warmth and coziness as that of what's produced by the fireplace inside the house.

Choosing the best suited outdoor fireplace for your yard or patio may just be a challenging task. Just as the wide array of kinds and styles of indoor fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces also provide homeowners with a confusing number of designs and types to choose from.

Unlike indoor fireplaces, outdoor fireplaces have the advantage of portability. Some of these hearths were designed to be taken from one place to another thereby giving the opportunity of placing the fireplace at certain points around the house. They can be taken to a spot that will enable them to provide heat to a good number of people. Their strategic location will improve its efficiency. They are also made from lightweight materials making camping, picnics, beach parties and other activities more enjoyable and bearable during a somewhat cold season. Being portable also makes these fireplaces easy to be stored when not in use. To prevent the fireplace from wearing out easily, homeowners prefer to keep it inside during snowy winters and heavy rains. Easy storage will not be an issue with portable outdoor fireplaces.

Furthermore, there are also permanent outdoor hearths. They are designed to take on the same elegance and grandeur as that of indoor fireplaces. They are also made with extreme durability to withstand any weather conditions. These kinds of outdoor fireplaces will greatly complement your patio or pool because of its architectural beauty. However, choosing the right kind of material that the fireplace is made out of is essential. For instance, if you plan to place it by the pool, selecting metal iron isn't best recommended as they will easily rust upon constant contact with water. However, purchasing a special kind of paint to cover the iron fireplaces from time to time will help in its added longevity.

Outdoor hearths usually run on firewood or gas like the indoor hearths, whichever the homeowner prefers. Unlike the fireplaces inside the homes, outdoor fireplaces eradicate the requirement of having a chimney or vents to release the fumes. Homeowners are now provided with the convenience of burning firewood without worrying about smoke buildup within the house. Using firewood with provide the best fire because it is most authentic. Moreover, gas burning outdoor fireplaces are highly preferred by most as they can be maintained with ease. Although the fire produced is merely artificial, they have an added benefit because they create fire instantly with a single touch of the button. They also burn cleanly than wood so harming the environment isn't an issue. With the option of using propane to fuel the fire, the portability of the outdoor fireplaces is manifested.

Outdoor Fireplace Safety Tips

An outdoor fireplace can come in any shape or size. Any consumer may buy any outdoor fireplace that can hold the budget and the style or design concept. Potential buyers of outdoor fireplaces should however have something else in mind when purchasing their ideal home exterior. More than just style and design, safety requirements should also be carefully weighed. This is not, after all, your fun game, but your personal safety, safety of your friends and family and protect your property. Here are some helpful tips in choosing and using your outdoor fireplace.

Many people recommend chimneas more homes and homes for higher grounds of safety and comfort. The type of outdoor fireplace chimneas allows better air circulation, ensuring that you and your companions should not swim in a sea of irritating smoke.Elevated light contrasts also run the risk of tipping and potentially injuring those around him.

Needless to say, you should never be complacent in the combustion of material around. Even as you enjoy your campfire conversation, pay attention to whats going on in your outdoor fireplace. A strong gust of wind, change of wind direction, an animal or a playful whimsical toy can tip your outdoor fireplace, make the fire larger and uncontrollable or send sparks around the camp area.

Do not become more passionate and breath fire on your outdoor fireplace out of proportion to the first attempt. Having a small manageable fire first and the study of things such as how and where the wind blows. Of course, you should never make a fire when the wind is moderately strong. You can send sparks right on your head on your beautiful wooden house.

Be ready at any time to burn. The fire in your outdoor fireplace in May unexpectedly out of control so make sure you're ready.You can have everything in a large bucket of water to a fire extinguisher in the complex case of an emergency. Make sure that everyone around outside your home knows how to use a fire extinguisher and knows where the outer pipe and valve area. Of course, when you have finished your session in the evening and are ready to call it a day, make sure all the single coals.

Make sure you have safety equipment such as hand, as the screen outside of your home and your special gloves. Use the screen to your home outside as it is supposed to be used. The screen of your outdoor fireplace will protect everyone around the fireplace unexpected sparks that fly may just a well. The screen will actually keep your fire where it should be.

Place your outdoor fireplace on a large open space and clear. Make sure there are no plants or trees or overhanging vines or branches that might catch fire.You also have to keep at least 3 feet from the fire to make sure you do not catch fire too.

Never use your outdoor fireplace inside. Common sense would tell you that the designers have such a home specifically for the product safe for use outdoors.

Outdoor Fire Place Design

The appeal of outdoor fire places has indeed increased significantly over the past few years. Currently the focus in home design is primarily on outdoor living areas, and as such much emphasis is placed on features which will make an outdoor living area more appealing and attractive. The trend of constructing outdoor fireplaces and fire pits has rapidly gained popularity across the United States.

If you are interested in making an outdoor fireplace a part of your outdoor landscaping options, then the first thing which you should do is to contact your local authorities. In several areas the burning of any form of fire at night is strictly prohibited, so getting permission to build a fireplace is essential. You certainly do not want to invest money and time in a project which you possibly will be unable to enjoy!

Outdoor Fire Place Design

Technically, there is not much of discernible difference between an indoor fireplace and an outdoor fireplace, as the basic construction is the same. Chimneys, not dampers are used in the construction of outdoor fireplaces, and a beautiful addition to any outdoor fireplace is the Mexican chimenea. These fireplaces design were traditionally made from clay but now are available in cast aluminum. These chimeneas are easily available at most garden centers or even at your local home improvement store.

The most popular materials used in the construction of these fireplaces are cast iron, bricks, stone and aluminum. However, if you choose to go with the brick design, ensure that the bricks used for the inner section of the fireplace are actually 'firebricks' as these are able to readily withstand high temperatures.

Pay particular attention to the location in which you plan to have your fireplace constructed. It is important to ensure that it is far away from your plants, draperies and other nearby garden structures to reduce the likelihood of stray sparks causing a fire. It is advisable that all outdoor fire places be at least fifteen feet away from your home and quite a distance away from tress, overhanging shrubs and electrical wires. Never leave a fire unattended to, and always make sure that the fire is completely extinguished before retiring for the night.

Overall, the main consideration when building outdoor fireplaces really should be on ventilation and safety as opposed to aesthetics. The focus on aesthetics is secondary once all the safety features are already in place. It is recommended that the design of your fireplace should be in tandem with the overall interior decorating theme of your home.

Outdoor fireplaces provide a stimulating area for hosting get-togthers with friends and family while increasing the overall value of your home. Quite possibly this is a major factor which has boosted its popularity so far within the home improvement arena. Best of all these outdoor fireplaces are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and will be perfect for any size lawn or patio. There are a multiplicity of styles available, so you will be able to find one which suits your tastes perfectly.