Outdoor fireplaces are found in many people’s backyard where they want to feel snug and comfy outside their house but are not allowed to enjoy and experience an open fire. Outdoor fireplaces are generally just closed containers that contain fuel like firewood, propane gas or natural and the fire. These fireplaces will then spread the heat effectively through the surrounding air.

Different people have different outdoor fireplace ideas. Thankfully, there are various outdoor fireplaces that have full potential of looking great in your own patio or backyard. When searching for the right outdoor fireplace, look into as many fireplace manufacturers as you can. Outdoor fireplaces tend to look dissimilar from others based on design and shape. Knowing everything you can about each one helps make the choosing and buying process easier.

Chimineas or the chimney type outdoor fireplace originated in Mexico and were made of clay. Chimeneas are easily identified because of its chimney. Chimineas have great air ventilation system that promotes a proper cross draft that allows the fuel to burn properly. This outdoor fireplace’s chimney helps a lot with the ventilation while it effectively carries smoke away from those near it making the chiminea more comfortable. The traditional chimineas are shaped round traditionally, but this outdoor fireplace has evolved into something modern. Some chimineas are shaped in unique pyramid and may be made out of cast aluminum, cast iron, or copper.

Bowl shaped burners are often called fire-pits or fire-bowls. Fire-pits are preferred by many not only for aesthetic reasons but because they are more inexpensive. This type of outdoor fireplace usually has an open fire design while other units have meshes covering the top to avoid sparks from escaping. Fire-pits are portable and most units come with handles and wheels. The only downside to using these type of outdoor fireplaces is that it is has poor ventilation resulting to improper burning of firewood and smokier output.

Another great fireplace idea is the flat type fireplace. This fireplace is somewhat similar to the fire-pits but unlike them, flat type outdoor fireplaces are not elevated. Flat type outdoor fireplaces sit flat on the ground and can be used for cooking. Though some may not like this kind of outdoor fireplace, it is very inexpensive and portable. The last type of outdoor fireplace is the traditional fireplace, you know, that kind of design that most people associate with when ‘fireplace’ is mentioned. Most of these traditional outdoor fireplaces are pre-fabricated and come with spark protection screens. They can be built into a wall or can be free standing.
Before purchasing any type of unit, think about the different outdoor fireplace ideas. Choose the one that’s perfect in terms of function and design. Once you have installed the outdoor fireplace, always practice responsible use of outdoor fireplace while enjoying its warmth.

Zoning and building regulations covering outdoor fireplaces are enforced by most local authorities. You want to visit them to inquire about this even before you decide what kind of fireplace you want. Some do not allow the use of the wood-burning kind for fear of floating embers that could accidentally ignite some dried material. Others require specific dimensions and locations, as well as the installation of certain safety features.

If you are already familiar with what is and what is not allowed, you can begin looking for sample designs. There are literally hundreds of websites on the Internet featuring endless designs and styles of fireplaces, not to mention the materials with which they are made, and their position and orientation. It is easy to get confused about what you really want with so many options to choose from. In addition to online sources, there are also plenty of home-improvement magazines that feature glossy pages of fireplaces that could make you green with envy. There may also be home improvement companies and stores in your area where you can actually see samples of fireplaces.

You can draw ideas from these designs, combining the features you like best from among them. If you have an artistic bent, you can do this on your own. If you have basic DIY skills, you can even build your own fireplace. However, if you choose a huge and elaborate design, you may need the help of a professional. Be sure that the design you choose complements existing structures and that it complies with the zoning and building ordinances. Carefully consider the materials to use as they will determine the appearance and durability of the fireplace. They will also greatly affect your budget. This is especially true if your plan on constructing a big, complex, and intricately designed fireplace.

Once you have decided on the design and the materials to use, you can draft your blueprint with its exact specifications and measurements as well as its precise location. If it is a simple design, you can draft it and even build it yourself; otherwise, you may need to consult with an architect. In this case, it may be also advisable to have your outdoor fireplace construction executed by a professional.

If you decide you want to have your own fireplace in your backyard, and you opt for the fixed version, the next thing you will have to consider is its design and style. It can either be a stand-alone version, or one that is incorporated with another structure. You will also need to choose the type of fuel it will use, whether wood, gas, or propane. Identify, too, the exact location where you want your fireplace. The materials with which to build it should be chosen before any work starts. One final decision is whether you will build your fireplace yourself, or hire a contractor to do it for you.

If you go for the former, your next step is to draw up your plans, perhaps with the help of a professional, for the fireplace. An alternative is to purchase fireplace kits available in hardware stores. These kits contain all the needed materials along with a set of detailed instructions on how to put them together. Next, you will have to pay a visit to the local authorities. Most counties and municipalities have building codes regulating the construction of houses including fireplaces. Indeed, there are local authorities that actually ban outdoor wood-burning types. Verify if your plans conform to local ordinances, otherwise you will have to revise your plans.

Once you have complied with the legal requirements, you can proceed to build your fireplace. If you are building from dirt, you will need to do some ground-leveling. Remove all weeds or any other vegetation and cover the area with a compact layer of gravel, at least three inches thick.

On top of this, build the base with bricks, or, if you are using stones, the largest and flattest of them. Arrange the stones as close together as they could get, but if there are still gaps, use the smaller stones to fill them up. Cover the top of the base with furnace-rated mortar and, if there are any cracks be sure to seal them. If you intend to use your fireplace for cooking, use a level to ensure that food will not roll off the grill.

Using your fireproof mortar, you can now start building the walls. Stack your bricks or stones, ensuring that they are kept vertical with the help of a plumb bob. Once the walls reach four feet, go inside the walls to check for cracks. If you find any, fill and seal them with the fireproof mortar.

If you are building from a deck, be sure it can support the weight of the fireplace. And if it is made of combustible materials, install a fireproof barrier between the two. You can also add a hearth to protect the deck and a screen to keep embers from floating into the air and falling into it.

Two days after completing the job, you can begin using your brand new outdoor fireplace, and boast to your friends that you did it your way.

Suddenly, you realized that you can’t afford to hire a mason and buy construction material needed to install your own outdoor fireplace. You feel depressed and sad. If only you had more money to spare, you can finally have one installed.

After a week of sulking around the house, you decided to go to your neighbor’s barbecue party. As soon as you stepped into their backyard patio, you immediately noticed their large outdoor fireplace. In it, some of the folks were busy grilling steaks and hamburgers. You were sure you were turning green with envy right there. You wished you should have just stayed home and sulked some more.

As you were picking on your steak and trying to act jovial to your friends, the host approached you and asked how your new home was. He immediately went on about how cold evenings are in your area and because of the he decided to buy an outdoor fireplace kit to personally install it himself. He also said that his two teenage sons even helped with the construction. You could not believe your ears. A DIY outdoor fireplace? Is it really possible? You immediately asked your neighbour how much it cost them and it was just a fraction of the price compared to having a mason build it for you.

As soon as you arrived home, you immediately scoured the Internet to get the best price for an outdoor fireplace kit. You immediately placed your order as soon as you found the company that offered these beautiful kits at a reasonable price. After having done that, you checked your local city planning office for the various permits and licenses that you might need to get your fireplace installed. Aside from the permits, you also checked your patio as to where you’re going to install your outdoor fireplace to make sure that it’s away from hanging branches, bushes and trees, a safe distance from the main house, other buildings and on level ground. You also made sure that there are no pipes or any cables passing through.

With the help of a neighbor, you began assembling your 36″ outdoor fireplace, starting with the firebox floor. Once the base was leveled, you proceeded to install the baseplate, sidewall, and the backplate. When that was down, you continued on to attach the flue and the hearth.

Since the outdoor fireplace kit that you bought comes with everything including wood storage and firebrick, you were able to see the finished product in just a day. You were so proud of your work and with the help of your neighbour, your outdoor fireplace turned out great!

No more cold nights, thanks to outdoor fireplace kits.

Coleman offers several models of portable outdoor fireplaces designed specifically for those who enjoy open spaces, whether in the wilderness or just in their own backyard.

If you like to camp and cook your food in forest clearings, there are several models suited for this purpose. These are:

• Dome Fireplace. These units consist of a dome assembly, screen assembly, fire bowl, grates, and leg supports. The dome could either be made of ordinary steel, stainless steel, or copper. It has an opening at the top which serves as the outlet for the smoke, and rests on the circular screen assembly that serves as a protective barrier to the fire. This barrier, in turn, stands on the fire bowl. The leg supports raise the fire bowl about a couple of feet above the ground.

• Round/Square Fireplace. These are similar to the domed type. The difference is that instead of the dome fireplace’s circular protective screen topped by a dome of steel or copper, the fire bowl of the round/square fireplaces are covered with a domed screen. This serves to keep children from touching the bowl as well as to keep embers from floating into the air. The fire bowl is made either of regular steel, stainless steel, or copper. The round kind could be 30, 35, or 40 inches in diameter, while the square type is 33 inches long. While it may be manageable carrying the 30- to 35-inch models in the back of your truck, the 40-inch wood-burner may better off in your backyard.

• Round/Square Fireplace and Grill. This type resembles the dome fireplace, except for the dome. In its place is a damper or a lid that blocks floating embers. It is a portable warmer and, as the name implies, doubles as a grill. There are two designs available, round and square units.

There are also models meant to be used in your patio or backyard.

• Patio Fireplace with Wheels. Like the portable models, patio fireplaces can also be round or square. Their design is basically the same as their portable cousins, except that they may be equipped with a fire starter fueled with propane gas. This helps ignite the wood.

• Outdoor Hearth Fireplace. Except for a few minor variations in styling and size, this is also very similar to the patio fireplace. There is, however, no fire starter for this model.

• Stainless Steel Gas Log Patio Hearth. This is a propane gas-fueled fireplace for your patio. The advantage of this is that it lights up easily and you don’t have to worry about embers and ashes, or keeping a stock of firewood. Environmentalists would also say that this is kinder on the environment than burning wood.

These warmers have plenty of variations. They can be portable or fixed. The fixed kind can stand as a separate unit or can be built into a wall. They can be plain and simple or ornate and elaborate. Materials used to make them can be etched cast iron, clay, aluminum, or stone. They can be fuelled either by wood or gas. They can even be electric-powered.

These variations often translate to widely divergent dollar costs of outdoor fireplaces. Portable types generally cost lower than those built into your patio or yard. These are generally made of steel or cast iron and smaller than the built-in type. You can buy one for as low as $100, although if you want quality, this will have to go a little higher. A portable wood-fuelled cast iron outdoor fireplace with copper accents, for instance, can be purchased for about $180.

Stand-alone fixed units usually have bigger dimensions than the portable kind and thus are more expensive. These can be pre-manufactured or custom-designed. Price range can vary from about $500 to as much as $4,000 depending on the size, materials used, and design.

The most expensive outdoor fireplaces are custom designed units built into your patio walls. This is because you will need professionals to create a design specific to your requirements. These are most visually appealing as they blend into the structure and design of your house. The cost, however, can go as high as, or even higher than, $10,000.

With all these fireplaces, you have a choice of a wood-burning, gas-supplied, or electric-powered fireplace. As a rule, wood burners are least expensive while electric fireplaces are the most costly. However, a huge elaborately designed wood burner can easily be more expensive than an electric-powered of smaller dimensions and simpler design.

The design of your outdoor fireplace will give you a general idea of how it will look like when constructed. It does not go into specifics but it is necessary to provide a broad framework within which to map out the nuts-and-bolts of the actual construction and to prepare the blueprints and plans. It may be a rough sketch of the structure and its possible general location.

The starting point of a good design is a study of the main house and its surrounding structures. The size of the house and the yard are major considerations. You do not want a fireplace that is almost as big as your house, or one that occupies over half the space in your yard. Also, the architectural design of the house and the materials it is made of influence that of the fireplace. If it is highlighted with green slate, for instance, then choose a fireplace design that will allow the use of the same type of stone.

The layout of the house and the other buildings within the property will affect the location of the outdoor fireplace. It should not block the view from the house. Neither should it obscure its interesting features. There is no point in having a fireplace that isn’t properly located within your garden or suitably protected. It would be like owning a house full of expensive things and not having proper home security. Also, the fireplace should not be placed upwind of the house. This is especially applicable if you opt for the wood-fueled type. Certain localities also have laws regulating the distance of your fireplace from your house and setbacks from slopes. Stay within these laws as they are there for your own safety.

As for wood-burning fireplaces, there are ordinances requiring them to have a chimney that is at least two feet taller than the nearest structure. Be sure to incorporate this in your designs. Also, a smoke shelf and a properly-sized flue must be designed into your fireplace to encourage smoke to escape at the top of the chimney instead of being pushed toward the hearth by a strong downdraft. If you don’t like stocking up on firewood and clearing the hearth of ashes now and then, you can opt for a gas-fired fireplace. This will free you from the chimney but your design will have to include venting options for the gas.

The space around the fireplace should also be considered when drafting your design. Without necessarily providing exact area measurements, you can indicate that you want the space to accommodate, say, 15 persons at a single time, along with the needed furniture where you can sit, and the plants that liven up the place.

Another consideration you will want to keep in mind is cost. Some materials are more expensive than others, and while they do differ in appearance, they do not differ much in terms of durability and strength. If your budget will not allow granite, for example, you can always go for slate.

You will need to exercise care and caution in describing the design you want for your outdoor fireplace because this involves a permanent structure within your property. The resulting work will greatly affect the image and appearance of the whole property. And it will certainly affect the quality of your time spent warming yourself in front of it, and grilling pork chops and fish fillets in it.

With the advent of central heating, radiators, and radiant heat panels, the fireplace has somewhat taken a back seat. But only somewhat. Most people, if they had the space in their homes, and the money in their wallets, still prefer a fireplace. A fireplace as the centerpiece of your living room, or your patio in the backyard, with a crackling fire to keep you cozy and warm is certainly more romantic than a radiator whirring in some obscure background.

Outdoor fireplaces have become quite popular especially in recent years. If you are one of those who do not like to limit the time they spend outdoors to summertime, or those who like to watch the night stars and the moon-lit landscape from the patio in even in wintertime, an outdoor fireplace is definitely for you.

There are many designs and styles of outdoor fireplaces. Once you decide you want one, you should select which suits your tastes best. From this design or style that you choose, you, or a hired professional, can proceed to map out the plans to construct your ticket to all-year-round warm and comfortable outdoor nights with you and your family, or with your friends.

While the design gives you the general idea of how your fireplace will look like when finished, the plan provides more specific details such as the steps and procedures involved, the materials to be used as well as the actual measurements, the exact location, and orientation of the fireplace. The plan should include a complete bill of materials, an estimate of the total cost of the project, the equipment and tools needed, and a timetable of the work.

In order to avoid accidental fire, local authorities often have building codes that regulate the construction of outdoor fireplaces. You will want to be sure that your plans conform to these safety laws. In the United States, fireplaces are a major cause of house fires.

Outdoor fireplaces are often made of stone or firebrick. Sometimes, they are also made of cast iron or aluminum alloy. Your plan should indicate which of these materials will be used. Remember that there are many kinds of stones of varying colors and surfaces that you could choose from. Whichever material you choose, it should complement those used for the house.

The blueprints should specify the exact location of the fireplace, indicating how many feet should it be from the house. Its orientation and elevation must also be included. You will want to be sure that your fireplace will blend well with the design and layout of the house and other structures surrounding it.

Ventilation should also be considered in the plans. This is dictated by the type of fuel you want to use, whether wood or gas. Most wood-fed fireplaces have a tall chimney so you need not worry about smoke from the fire. Gas, of course, does not burn like wood, so smoke is less of a concern. You will, however, have to provide ventilation options for the gas to dissipate.

Your outdoor fireplace will not only warm you during wintry weather. You can also plan for it to be your grill for your cookouts. There are some ready-made fireplace grills available but you can always have one custom-made for your fireplace. This way, you can enjoy your barbeques at any time of the year.

Remember than plans and blueprints are the bridges that link your design ideas and the concrete fireplace that will warm you and cook your grilled meat or fish. You will have think them out thoroughly and meticulously. Your fireplace will only be as good as the plans.