To warm up your backyard or patio area, to slow cook your favorite meats and vegetables or just to provide a great ambiance for a summer barbeque with all of your friends, an outdoor fireplace is the way to go. Outdoor fireplaces have been an important part of frontier living for hundreds of years and are wonderful additions to your backyard or patio today.
There are a number of outdoor fireplace designs, construction materials and fuel types available for you to customize your unit and meet all of your needs. There are complete freestanding units that can be purchased and ready for use in the same day or you can design and build your own custom unit that looks and performs just as you like.
Choosing the Right Outdoor Fireplace For You
With the numerous styles and designs of outdoor fireplaces available, you should be sure to purchase or design one that fits your needs perfectly. The first thing to do is to consider your outdoor space or patio and where you want to use your fireplace. Remember that you want to place your unit so that the opening is somewhat sheltered from the wind. Set the fireplace near the seating area in your backyard or patio as it will provide heat and ambiance for the immediate area.
The size of outdoor fireplaces varies greatly. There are small models available that can fit cozily in your small garden or patio areas and there are large outdoor fireplaces that can serve as the focal point of your entire backyard. Fireplaces can be installed in a wall unit, be freestanding and movable or be freestanding and built into the foundation.
The design of your fireplace can compliment the rest of your patio. For example, if you have a brick patio, you can use brick to build your outdoor fireplace. You can design the outside of the fireplace to have mosaic tile, or tiling that matches your swimming pool. There are also a number of metal finishes that can be used to match the décor of your backyard.
The three main fuel types of outdoor fireplaces are wood, gas, and coal, while some others use a flammable gel. While cooking with wood can add a unique flavor and the natural crackling of a wood burning fireplace can’t be replicated, the main drawback of using wood as your fuel is the purchase and storage of wood. Gas fueled outdoor fireplaces are a popular option due to the fact that they don’t require a lot of maintenance and the fuel can be easily purchased and supplied. Coal fueled fire places require the purchase and storage of coal. Another important thing to remember is that coal and wood fireplaces must be cleaned often and cleared of ash. Gel fueled fireplaces are relatively new to the market and they offer a number of benefits including a clean, smokeless burn and an easily supplied fuel source.
After considering the various options of outdoor fireplaces, be sure to choose the option that best suits your needs and desires. With numerous construction materials available, the right fireplace can perfectly accent your patio while providing a heat source, a place for cooking and giving your patio the right ambiance.