How To Build An Outdoor Fireplace Safely And Responsibly
Tantalizing and mesmerizing, flickering flames capture and command our attention. Having an outdoor fireplace allows us to enjoy the ambiance of a fire safely. Moreover, you may think you can save yourself a lot of money by building it yourself. If you search the internet, you’ll find many blogs and videos on how to build an outdoor fireplace.
Yet, build your fireplace incorrectly and you can have serious issues. For a safe and beautiful outdoor structure, hire Landscape Solutions & Design, Inc.
Benefits Of An Outdoor Fireplace
Certainly, building an outdoor fireplace has many benefits for the homeowner:
- Warmth
- Aesthetic appeal
- Adds value to your home
- Ambiance
- Health benefits
For many of us, warmth, aesthetic appeal, added value, and ambiance are obvious advantages. Yet, surprisingly, researchers also found sitting around a fire is relaxing and calming. This calming effect can also lower blood pressure.
However, you can only benefit from these advantages if you locate your structure in the perfect spot. Furthermore, your design should seamlessly integrate with your home and yard yet be fully functional.
Location
One of the most important decisions you need to make about your fireplace is its location. You want it near the home for easy access, but far enough away so it’s not a safety hazard.
While your fireplace can be a stunning focal point, you don’t want it to obscure a view. Moreover, you don’t want your structure to interrupt the flow of your yard. Plus, you’ll want plenty of room for seats to enjoy a good crackling fire.
Finally, you’ll have to consider your municipality’s building codes and regulations. Often, your town will have distance requirements from your home as well as neighboring homes.
Design
Often, homeowners will think of aesthetic beauty when discussing design. While the appeal is part of the design process, the function is equally important. When designing an outdoor fireplace, you need to consider 3 important structural components:
- Base
- Firebox
- Chimney/vents
Like any construction project, laying the base or foundation is the first step. A good strong foundation will support your structure. Without a suitable base, your fireplace won’t last very long. Your fireplace could sink into the ground unevenly, cracking and damaging your structure.
The next important component of a fireplace is the firebox. This is where the fire burns. Thus, its walls must be non-combustible and withstand intense heat. You can choose from a metal prefabricated or built on-site masonry firebox.
In addition, you can choose from a gas or wood-burning fireplace. Gas burning outdoor fireplaces require vents to direct harmful fumes away from the area. With a gas-burning gas fireplace, you don’t have to worry about gathering wood or cleaning up ashes.
Whereas a wood-burning fireplace requires a chimney to remove harmful byproducts up and away. A wood fireplace gives you the addition of crackling sounds and the smell of burning wood. Plus, you can cook over a wood fire, something you can’t do with gas.
Basically, contractors build outdoor fireplaces with all components in proportion to one another. The size of your firebox determines the height of your chimney. Yet, even if you have a small yard, a professional landscaper can still build the perfect fireplace for you.
Materials
Another key consideration in building your fireplace is your material. You can choose from many options to match the architectural style of your home or other features in your landscape. Popular choices include manufactured stone, brick, stucco, concrete, and natural stone.
When trying to decide your best option, talk to a professional landscaper about the pros and cons of each. Some choices are more budget-friendly while others require less maintenance. Overall, your material choice should reflect your needs and taste.
The Area Around Your Fireplace
One of the reasons for building a fireplace is enjoying all the warmth and beauty a fire offers. Thus, you need to consider the area surrounding your fireplace. Often, you’ll want a patio flanking your fireplace for seating.
Usually, many homeowners choose either concrete or pavers for their sitting area. Both are long-lasting, durable, and non-combustible materials. However, both require resealing every 3-5 years to maintain their strength and beauty.
Therefore, Landscape Solutions now offers TufDek® vinyl decking. This revolutionary product creates a watertight, long-lasting, durable, and attractive walking surface. Moreover, we can install waterproof Tufdek® on most outdoor surfaces like patios. With a wide variety of colors and patterns, you can find a product to match any design requirement. Plus, Landscape Solutions is currently the only dealer in NC that can install this product.
FAQs About How To Build An Outdoor Fireplace
If you’re considering remodeling your outdoor space, you may be researching how to build an outdoor fireplace. To assist you, we’ve put together some commonly asked questions.
What Is the Ideal Size For An Outdoor Fireplace?
Ultimately, the size of your fireplace should fit your needs and the scale of your yard. Generally, the dimensions for building a fireplace involve complex physics. For example, you need to follow specific rules for the size and shape of the firebox. An incorrectly built firebox won’t properly draft smoke away from your sitting area.
Do I Need To Hire A Contractor?
Building an outdoor fireplace requires experience in masonry and knowledge of safety issues. Any misstep in the building process can result in a structure that doesn’t last. Even worse, you can create a dangerous fire hazard. Moreover, a contractor will secure all necessary permits to build your fireplace legally.
Can You Build Other Structures?
Landscape Solutions & Design, Inc is a full-service landscaper with many certifications. Since 2005, we’ve been remodeling outdoor spaces with solutions to fit your needs:
- Custom outdoor kitchens
- Fire pits
- Paver patios
- Pergolas and cabanas
- Retaining walls
- Sod installation
- Water features
- Drainage systems
- LED low voltage landscape lighting
- Grading
- Concrete work
- And more!
If you’ve been dreaming about sitting outdoors around a warm, crackling fire, pick up the phone right now! Call us at 336-442-0160 to set up an appointment for your free consultation. Why think about how much you’d enjoy an outdoor fireplace when we can install one for you.