Tag Archives: outdoor fireplace

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.

Introduction to the Outdoor Fireplace

Posted by Mark on May 10, 2009 Comments Off

Chances are, you have come to our site because you are considering to buy or build an outdoor fireplace in your garden. Here, we want to give you all the information on available models, places to go for more information and general knowledge you need in order to make an informed decision.

Outdoor FireplaceHaving a fireplace in one’s home has always been the wish of a majority of homeowners. The fascination with fire has attracted people since ancient times, and does so no less in current times. Recently, this trend has taken a new direction: building or setting up an outdoor fireplace in the garden or on the patio has become a way to extend the living room to the outdoors, increase the space of one’s house and provide an opportunity to enjoy more and also colder nights outside.

Outdoor fireplaces can serve multiple purposes: apart from being a source of heat which makes it possible to use your patio on chilly summer nights as well as during colder seasons, it can serve as a barbecue or grill as well. Most fireplace variants can be outfitted with the necessary equipment easily at low cost.
Generally speaking, there are two types of outdoor fireplaces: portable ones that you can carry around in your garden, and built-in ones.

The portable ones can be grouped into three designs: chimineas, fire pits and fire rings. Chimineas are traditional Mexican fireplaces consisting of a bowl-shaped lower part and a narrower chimney on top. Fire pits are large open bowls supported by usually three to four legs, while fire rings are composed of metal sheets forming a closed ring.

The built-in ones can be either fixed fire pits build into the ground or an individual construction like an outdoor stone fireplace which typically resembles a classical indoor fireplace. A large variety of options exists for these kinds of fireplaces, with space and available money being the main limitations.

Both chimineas and individual constructions basically consist of three components: the firebox, where the fuel is burned, the smoke chamber above the firebox, and a flue. The main types of fuel used are wood, charcoal and pressed wooden logs in all types of fireplaces as well as gas for built-in ones. An outdoor gas fireplace is naturally a more elaborate construction than any of the other types. On the other hand, they have the advantage of being much cleaner in operation than an outdoor wood fireplace or charcoal-fueled types, with propane and natural gas being the main types of fuel used.

With this background information at hand, you can now take a look at detailed information on your favorite type of outdoor fireplace: either portable or built-in. You can also find out more about their operation and required maintenance or about places to go for further information.