Category Archives: Outdoor Fireplaces

How to Assemble Outdoor Fireplace Kits

Posted by Mark on July 4, 2011 Comments Off

Outdoor fireplace kits have become ever more popular in recent years among people who want to install an outdoor fireplace in their home. While many people like to have a large permanently installed fireplace in their garden or on their patio, both the costs and effort required to build a custom outdoor fireplace will likely be prohibitively high for most.

FireplaceThe alternative to such an individual building project is to buy one of the many outdoor fireplace kits for sale available on the market. The variety of models offered by most manufacturers has increased significantly in recent years. Most of these fireplaces can be customized in their outside appearance either by painting the outside of the construction or by adding a stone or brick layer on top after assembly. Most outdoor fireplace kits are designed to be built as freestanding constructions, but can still be integrated into, for example, an existing wall with slight modifications.

Available Outdoor Fireplace Kit Options

Most fireplace kits can be delivered for use with either wood and charcoal or with a gas burner. Both natural gas and propane can be used as fuels with outdoor gas fireplace kits, supplied either from the fixed installed line or from a gas bottle which regularly needs to be exchanged. The typical size of an outdoor fireplace kit will be somewhere between 30 and 48 inches, usually spaced in 4 inch intervals.

The main attraction of a prefab outdoor fireplace kit compared to a custom built hearth is the ease of assembly. While building an outdoor fireplace from the ground up will require both expensive tools and considerable expertise, raising up an outdoor fireplace kit is an easy do-it-yourself project that could be completed by one or two persons in a single day. Most kits do not require mortar, glue or other kinds of fasteners for assembly.

The Fireplace Kit Assembly Process

The actual assembly of an outdoor fireplace kit proceeds as follows: at first, a level surface needs to be created upon which the construction will be built. Most assembly kits contain anything between 10 to 30 prefabricated stone or concrete parts which are already shaped in such a way as to fit tightly together. Construction starts with the lowest part of the fireplace, where the four bottom walls are connected in such a way as to form a basis for the firebox itself. The next levels of the fireplace including either the walls of the firebox or, in the case of see-through fireplaces, the front, back and side screens of the firebox are then stacked upon each other in the same way. On top, the chimney construction is again built from stone or concrete plates which will then be secured to the rest of the construction in such a way that the whole fireplace now forms a tight fitting construction.

Afterwards, the fireplace is already finished from a technical point of view and could be used without further building efforts. However, most installations will be finished with an additional decorated layer on top of the stone construction which will give the fireplace its final outside appearance. The materials needed for this are usually not included in the outdoor fireplace kit but need to be purchased separately. Most manufacturers offer a large variety of materials for this purpose specifically.

Due to the standardized manufacturing and the do-it-yourself installation, outdoor fireplace kits are significantly cheaper than individually designed fireplaces, saving the owner large sums of money which can then be spent for other purposes on and around the fireplace, enhancing the overall appeal of the ensemble. This possibility is certainly one of the major reasons why people choose to buy an outdoor fireplace kit instead of building a hearth from the ground up.

The Gas Fire Pit: a Modern Alternative

Posted by Mark on June 1, 2011 Comments Off

When thinking of fire pits, the first thing to come to mind is either a traditional, simple fire bowl or maybe a Mexican chiminea, both used for burning small wooden logs. Fire pits are typically outdoor fireplaces, for the dirt, ashes and smoke associated with an open fire would definitely be problematic inside the house. Some Gas fire pits, however, can even be used on the inside if they fulfill the strong regulations required for ventless gas fireplaces. Still, their typical environment is the outdoors – in the garden or on the patio. We will now take a look at the reasons more and more buyers decide in favor of a gas-burning model when looking for a fire pit.

Gas fire pits fall into one of two groups: portable or built-in. Both are used for the visual enjoyment of the flickering flames as well as for heating purposes. Most of the time, an outdoor gas fire pit is of the portable kind, with built-in pits being used only in advanced landscaping settings. There are some features common to all gas fire pits, indeed to all gas fireplaces. Two kinds of gas fuel are used almost exclusively: natural gas and propane. The portable gas fire pit uses small gas bottles attached either externally or integrated into the fire pit housing. For built-in pits, the additional option of a permanent underground gas line exists, which can be fueled either from a large gas tank or the main house line. Typical materials used for gas fire pits are clay or ceramic, different metals such as iron or copper and special heat-resistant reinforced concrete. Commonly seen decorations such as colored fire glass provide the finishing touch for any outdoor gas fire pit.

When prospective buyers express their reservations about owning a gas fire pit, their main criticism invariably concerns the lack of “campfire atmosphere” associated with a wood-free outdoor fire pit. While this objection is certainly worth considering, it is balanced by several advantages unique to gas fire pits. Due to the increased control over the size and temperature of a gas fire, there are less concerns about moving a gas fire pit close to building walls or below outdoor ceilings. The lack of smoke and wood fire-related smells is also seen as an advantage in many settings. Based on the amount of heat generated, a gas fire pit is also more fuel-efficient that its traditional wood counterpart, not to mention the increased convenience due to the absence of any wood-related work.

While it is almost impossible to give a reliable price range for available gas fire pits due to the large variety of available designs and models especially in the case of the portable gas fire pit, it is probably more important to mention two important pieces of advice for potential buyers: first, when comparing offers, make sure that all of them include a gas tank. Second, planning in advance pays off: outdoor gas fire pits are much cheaper during fall and winter, when most buyers have other things on their minds.

Finally, do not forget to check for your local regulations, fire and zoning laws regarding outdoor fires before buying your fire pit. While many communities allow gas fire pits, being aware of any possible restrictions will help you to avoid any disappointments.

The Portable Outdoor Fireplace – Types and Characteristics

Posted by Mark on May 10, 2009 Comments Off

As described in the introductory article on the outdoor fireplace, a portable outdoor fireplace falls into one of three main categories: the chiminea, the portable fire pit and the simple fire ring. The main advantage of portable outdoor fireplaces compared with built-in ones is the increased flexibility in moving them to whatever location you want in your garden as well as their significantly lower price.

The chiminea is the most common type of portable outdoor fireplace in the U.S., while in Europe the portable fire pit is more prevalent. Chimineas are traditional Mexican ovens which were already in use centuries ago to provide heat and a place for cooking to their owners. They consist of a bowl-shaped firebox with an opening to one side and a long, narrow chimney on top. The bowl shape ensures a good air circulation within the firebox, while the long chimney helps to keep the smoke away from the people sitting around the outdoor fireplace. The construction results in heat being radiated out of the opening in the side in one direction only, which makes it ideal for warming up during cold nights. The main decision to make when selecting a chiminea is the material used for its construction. Chimineas are made either out of metal, mostly cast iron and aluminum or out of clay, often also described as ceramic or terracotta.

Both kinds of chimineas have their own distinctive advantages and disadvantages. A clay chiminea typically comes fully assembled and therefore requires no further work before startup. It is fairly heavy and somewhat difficult to move. Its main characteristic however is the brittleness of the clay, which causes it to break much more easily than its metal counterpart. The weak point is the bottom part of the firebox, which can develop cracks and even fall out after heavy use. Also, clay fireplaces must never be used while still wet, for example after being exposed to rain. Models offered on the market should therefore be carefully checked for manufacturing quality and durability. Due to their fragility, they are also fairly maintenance-intensive, as they should be protected from humidity and cleaned regularly. On the other hand, their main advantage compared with metal-made models is their ability to store heat better as well as keep the temperature on the outside much lower.

The cast iron and aluminum chiminea usually does need some simple assembly after delivery, however it is much more durable than clay models and requires less maintenance, apart from the necessary rust protection for iron ones. There are large variations in weight, with iron models being very heavy, while aluminum ones are easily transportable. Both types get very hot during operation.

The price tags for a chiminea starts at about $170 for clay models and $380 for cast metal-made ones.

A portable fire pit is most often made from iron or aluminum, however some clay models are also available. They most closely resemble traditional campfires and radiate their heat in all directions. While most models are built as solid units, some are a real collapsible, portable outdoor fireplace which can be folded up when not in use. Fire pits can be found starting from about $100 upwards.

Fire rings usually are used only to contain a fire which burns on an existing fire-proof surface. A large variety of models is available, however, most are unlikely to be used in a residential garden.