The Ultimate Outdoor Fireplace Handbook

by Charlean D. on February 6, 2010

Adding an outdoor fireplace to your home will drastically change the visual appearance and the entire feel of it. With that being said, adding one of these fireplaces can be a rewarding move as it will bring about a change that everybody will love and see tremendous benefit from. There are in tradition two different types of fireplaces – those that are outdoors and those that are indoors, this article will concentrate on outdoor fireplaces that are both portable and permanently installed into the house.

Addressing portable fireplaces first is the easiest because they are easy to understand. The concept around these types of fixtures is that they are meant to be moved around from room to room or even taken on small outings and trips. The different types of fuel such as gas, fuel and coal will all be found in portable versions with wooden ones being the most common and used. The size of these units can range from a tiny box to a healthy unit that can measure a few feet by a few feet in length. Looking into outdoor fireplace kits is another great solution when it comes to portable and mobile warmth. While attention to detail is being paid on non-portable units, the same information applies to them just the same as the outdoor units in terms of their basic functionality and fuel sources.

The Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor gas fireplace – These types of units operate primarily off of using gas to fuel it. Natural gas is an expensive option and so many people are turned off by the sound of hearing even the word “gas”, and rightfully so. If you live in an area with abundant supplies of natural gas then this is a good choice for you, for the most practical use looking into other fuel sources is going to be better.

Outdoor Wood Burning Fireplace – These are the champions that rise above the fold. These units use wood as their primary source of fuel and building a fireplace that operates off of wood is the type most sought out by others. The only downside to wood is that it does require a lot of space in your home to store the wooden logs. Either consider storing these logs in your basement or by even keeping them in your outdoor shed. While gas is more expensive then wood, you do not have to physically store it in your home and for some people this alone is worth it.

Outdoor Stone Fireplace – The stone aspect is referring to the aesthetic design behind the unit. Obviously you need to take things into mind such as what you house is built out of – you would not go off attaching an all stone fireplace to a house made from paneling that looks radically different from the stone. Often times this can be done if the coloration between the stone and the non-stone house align properly. Installing this type of fireplace into your home can be expensive when you take into consideration the cost of the demolition, materials, construction and labor but the end look is unbeatable. These types of units will operate only with wood in most cases.

Outdoor Brick Fireplace – The standard color for brick fireplaces does not always have to be red; given the amount of people who assume that red is the only color these can be constructed in, it is important to note that in this article. Just like when you are doing a walkway or driveway, different color bricks can be selected for the construction of the fireplace. As far as fuel and construction goes, the brick units are identical to their stone brothers.

Outdoor Patio Fireplace – Confusion is warranted here, when people hear the word “patio fireplace” attached with the word “outdoor” it is hard to differentiate if this unit is portable or built into the home. The answer is, in most cases this term refers to a portable unit as it would be redundant to build a fireplace into the side of the home just to use outdoors. The only exception to this comes in cases where homeowners have built outdoor cooking and lodging areas to cater to needs present there. Outdoor fireplace designs are easy to come by and if you are looking to get your hands on some more reading information it is best to consult with a professional who deals with the building and construction of these types of units.

{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }

Darwin Placek March 25, 2010 at 3:33 pm

Thank you for all of this information about an outdoor fireplace. I have been considering one for a couple of months now and this has proven to be a great resource for me :)

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