An outdoor fireplace acts as a warm and inviting focal point for your patio, deck or outdoor living room. Learn how to build a great outdoor fireplace with these simple tips.
Everybody loves an outdoor fireplace. It is a great gathering place that also adds beauty to the space surrounding the home.
The first thing you need to consider when building an outdoor fireplace is the location. Remember that the area around the fireplace is going to be the most trafficked area in the whole backyard. You can install the fireplace close to your house on a patio or deck or you can place it somewhere in the backyard.
While you can install the fireplace anywhere in the yard, the size of your backyard may influence your decision. If you have a spacious backyard you will have no trouble finding a great location for your outdoor fireplace. If space is an issue, finding a good location for the fireplace can be a bit tricky.
Once you have chosen a location, you have to decide what type of fireplace you want to install. You have got several options.
A wood-burning fireplace is a popular choice. It is portable, too. You can install it in a safe spot in your yard. Avoid areas with lots of dry grasses or overhanging tree branches. Placing the fireplace on top of a hard surface or gravel is a good idea.
A fireplace powered by propane is also portable. But if you are planning to install a fireplace powered by natural gas, you will have fewer choices when it comes to location. In most cases, natural gas is fed from the house. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to install the fireplace adjacent to the home. However, in this case, your gas line configuration may play a significant role in determining the location for your fireplace.
Once you have decided what sort of fireplace you want to install, you have to think about its design. You can choose a 'built-in' style, in which case the fireplace will be attached to an outer wall of the house or some other wall in the backyard. You can also install a freestanding fireplace. Freestanding fireplaces are usually portable. This can be an advantage.
The fireplace can be purchased with a prefabricated exterior design or you can opt for the base model and then create the desired finish by adding bricks or stones to the outside. An advantage of buying the base model is that you can decide which materials should adorn your fireplace.
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