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A Patio Fireplace Creates A Striking Feature In Your Yard

patio fireplaceHomeowners continue to update their boring outdoor spaces into private areas of retreat. Moreover, installing a patio fireplace is one of the hottest trends in outdoor living. Not only does it look nice, but an outdoor fireplace also allows you to enjoy the outdoors more often.

Reimagine Your Outdoor Space

Sometimes, when you want to remodel your yard, you don’t know where to begin. Perhaps your yard isn’t inspiring or beautiful and you’re embarrassed to entertain any guests. Or, maybe you know what you want, but you’re not sure of the style, size, or placement.

For example, you’ve been dreaming of adding an outdoor fireplace as a focal point in your backyard. While you think you have the perfect spot, your ideal location may have issues you haven’t considered. Locating it in an inconvenient place may mean you use it less frequently. Additionally, drainage issues can interfere with the integrity of the structure. Hire a professional landscaping service that can design the perfect space for you!

At Landscape Solutions & Design, Inc., we’ll design an inspiring, breathtaking backyard retreat. Plus, we can show you what it will look like before we begin. Using realistic 3D computer software, we can show you your finished project from different angles. Our software will give you a precise and detailed layout showing textures and colors.

Fire Safety 101

Sitting around your new patio fireplace enjoying the warmth and ambiance of a fire is enjoyable. However, although a crackling fire is beautiful, it can also be dangerous. Basic fire safety precautions are necessary for the building of your structure as well as its use.

One of the first things you should do to ensure safety is to hire a contractor. Building a fireplace can be a challenging project. Additionally, you must follow local building codes for size and position on your property. Placing a fireplace too close to a structure or without proper ventilation can be a serious fire hazard.

Additionally, always remember to follow basic fire safety rules when using your outdoor fireplace:

  • Never leave your fire untended
  • Use safety screens to keep sparks and embers inside the firebox
  • Clean your fireplace regularly
  • Extinguish your fire properly when finished
  • Keep a fire extinguisher nearby

The Best Way To Build A Fire In Your Outdoor Fireplace

When selecting your outdoor fireplace, you can choose between gas-fueled or wood-burning logs. Starting a fire in a gas fireplace requires only the flick of a switch. While you need to know how to start a fire for a wood-burning fireplace.

Building a successful fire requires more than stacking firewood and throwing on a match. You need to bring your logs up to their ignition temperature to get your fire burning.

Basically, a fire requires 3 types of fuel, tinder, kindling, and firewood combined with oxygen and heat. Tinder is a highly combustible material easily ignited with a spark. Some examples of tinder are pine needles, dry leaves, or paper.

Once your tinder catches fire, it creates enough heat to ignite your kindling. Primarily, kindling is small sticks and twigs that burn easily increasing the heat to ignite your firewood.

Typically, you’ll want to start with one or two pieces of firewood in your firebox. Place your tinder and kindling on top and between your logs making sure to leave room for oxygen flow. Light your tinder and enjoy your fire.

Best Types Of Wood To Burn In An Outdoor Fireplace

Now that you’ve got your outdoor fireplace, you need wood to burn in it. While you can burn many different kinds of wood, it’s important to keep in mind what not to burn. First, never burn green (unseasoned) wood. Doing so can create a buildup of dangerous creosote in your chimney. Creosote can cause dangerous chimney fires.

Also, the EPA advises against burning any of the following due to toxic or harmful chemicals:

  • Coated wood
  • Painted wood
  • Pressure-treated wood
  • Ocean driftwood
  • Plywood
  • Particleboard
  • Rotted/diseased/moldy wood

When choosing your wood for burning, keep in mind not all wood produces the same heat. Moreover, softwoods generally burn faster while hardwoods burn slower.

FAQs About Building A Patio Fireplace

Planning and designing your patio fireplace can leave you with many questions. To help you with the design process, we’ve compiled a list of some of our most frequently asked questions.

What’s The Best Material For My Fireplace?

Often, the fireplace is the backyard focal point due to its size. Thus, you’ll want to incorporate materials that fit cohesively with its surroundings. Your home’s exterior and adjacent landscaping will give you clues as to the best material to use.

Typically, manufactured stone, brick, stucco, concrete, and natural stone are the most popular choices. Generally, the pricing and maintenance of each vary between materials. However, while beauty is important, so are your budget and needs. Landscape Solutions can help you decide which is the best option for you. Call us at 336-442-0160 to begin designing your project today.

Can You Cook In An Outdoor Fireplace?

Absolutely! Cooking over a wood fire gives your food an exceptional, smoky flavor. Plus, you can add several accessories such as a grill or rotisserie to make fireplace cooking easier.

Moreover, you can alter the flavor of your food by changing the type of wood you burn. For example, fruitwoods will impart a sweet, mild flavor to your meal.

Can You Build Other Structures?

Landscape Solutions & Design, Inc. is a full-service landscaping company offering both design and maintenance services:

  • Custom outdoor kitchens
  • LED low voltage landscape lighting
  • Lawn care
  • Fire pits
  • Paver patios
  • Pergolas and cabanas
  • Retaining walls
  • Sod installation
  • Water features
  • Drainage systems
  • Grading
  • And more!

If you’re ready to talk about how an outdoor patio fireplace can enhance your yard, call us at 336-442-0160. Our initial consultation for any project is always free.