Fireplaces have almost become a requirement for every house in countries with cold weather. During winter, they help us keep ourselves warm in a natural way. It also adds beauty to the house. Normally, fireplaces are built inside the house. But as time has progressed, people have adapted to different things. Outdoor fireplaces have been winning the heart of many people. Outdoor fireplaces come handy, not only in winter, but also in spring. With the pleasant wind blowing, anybody would love to have a sip of wine in front of the fireplace.

The outdoor fireplace not only gives warmth for the body but also peace for the mind, amidst nature. Normally, when there is cold wind, nobody comes out of his or her house to enjoy the scenic beauty of nature, but with an outdoor fireplace, you can enjoy the nature with warmth.

Building a fireplace is not a big deal, but the protective measures and the rules that are present need to be followed very carefully. The initial before you begin step would be to identify a location for building the fireplace. It can be constructed anywhere in the garden, on the top floor of your house etc. Once the location has been selected, you should ensure that building a fireplace in that particular location does not affect the surroundings. Once this has been confirmed, then you can start with the construction. For construction, you need to plan the shape of the fireplace and for that, you need to decide how large you would like your fireplace to be.

After deciding upon the size, you need to draw the structure of the fireplace. This diagram will give you an idea of how the fireplace is going to look after you have finished the construction. The base of the fireplace will be the place where the wood will be burnt. Usually, fireplaces are constructed out of concrete and the bottom portion should be made in a well protective manner, so that the flames don’t come out. The bottom portion should be spacious and well built. After constructing the base portion, you need to construct the chimney. This is the most important part of the fireplace. Whenever you burn anything, a lot of smoke is produced and the effective way to clear off the smoke without affecting the surrounding can be achieved through a chimney.

Considering we are building an outdoor fireplace, the chimney should be long enough so that the smoke does not affect the surrounding. The chimney should be made with proper dimensions depending on the base. If proper dimensions are not used, the smoke will not be driven out properly and you will end up amidst smoke instead of warmth. You should also check with the fire department regarding the construction, to ensure that everything is ok. Once they inspect the fireplace and certify it to be ok, the fireplace is ready to be lit. Portable outdoor fireplaces can also be made. Instead of wood nowadays, people go in for gas as it causes less pollution.



By: yangxp

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Outdoor fireplaces are hot. A 2005 survey taken by the Hearth, Patio & Barbeque Association revealed that Americans spent nearly $150 billion on home remodeling of which one-third of that amount went towards adding outdoor living areas to their landscape design. Further, 67 percent of those surveyed who intended to build outdoor living areas also planned to install outdoor fireplaces or fire pits. The American Society of Landscape Architects confirms this trend: Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces top its list of biggest trends in landscape design for 2007.

Outdoor Fireplaces: Design Considerations

If you’re dreaming of what an outdoor fireplace or fire pit would look like in your back yard, consider the following design issues:

• Break up your landscape design into “rooms” or “zones.” Just as in a house, the “living room” is the central gathering spot and therefore perfect for outdoor fireplaces. In fact, the outdoor fire element serves as an “anchor” for an outdoor living room.

• Consider the views from the house. Where are your focal points? Are there privacy issues?

• At the same time, consider the view from the yard-do you want to take advantage of a view to a bayou, water way or greenbelt?

• Keep in mind that large structures, like outdoor fireplaces, alter the flow of traffic, so design accordingly.

• Work within your overall landscape design. For instance, if you’ve chosen a Mediterranean landscape design or modern landscape design, two very distinctive residential garden styles, you will want the outdoor fire element to be of the same design and of like material.

• Determine the direction of the prevailing wind when deciding where to set this large permanent structure. If needed, you might be able to use the height of a tall fireplace to help screen the winds.

• Integrate with other hardscapes. Outdoor fireplaces play off nicely against luxury swimming pools; each increases the dramatic effect of the other. Also landscape lighting can ratchet up the “wow” factor of your outdoor fire element.

Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist at Exterior Worlds, says, “Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits are all about ambiance. For example, right now we’re working on a dining area that is situated in front of an outdoor fireplace. We’re in the process of training a tree limb to grow over the dining table. When it gets big enough, we’re going to wire a chandelier to hang from it.”

Outdoor Fireplaces: Don’t Zone Out

While they vary from city to city, most zoning regulations restrict how closely you can construct an outdoor fireplace to all existing buildings. Most regulate side and rear property line setbacks as well. You will also want to check to see if there are rules regarding slope setbacks and height restrictions. A landscape architect or landscape designer will help you navigate through the zoning issues and will design an outdoor fireplace or fire pit especially fitted for your residential property.

Outdoor Fireplaces: Safety First

Fire pits and outdoor fireplaces enhance any landscape design-but only if they are used properly and safely. Safety tips include:

• Always have fire extinguishers on hand.

• Keep all outdoor furniture safely away from any fire source.

• Fire screens are important accessories for outdoor fireplaces. They keep logs from rolling out of the fire and limit air-borne soot and cinders from flying about.

• If using a fire pit, follow the manufacturer’s directions and obey all city regulations.

• For wood-burning fireplaces, it is a good idea to schedule regular professional chimney cleaning. One rule of thumb is to base the maintenance on the amount of wood you burn. Assuming you have no problem with birds’ nest and other debris, you should get your chimney cleaned after burning two cords of wood-however long that takes.

• The #1 safety rule? Use your common sense.

Outdoor Fireplaces: A Lovely Garden Element

“Outdoor fireplaces, wherever they are-as a stand-alone, part of a outdoor kitchen or in a gazebo-are beautiful architectural elements,” says Halper. “And they quickly become the central place where everyone gathers. Everyone wants to have one, especially in winter in this part of the country. They are a luxury that is perfect for the Houston climate.”

By: Jeff Halper

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