Although not traditionally called a heater, outdoor fireplaces are a beautiful way to add heat to your backyard or patio. Backyard fireplaces add ambience and warmth to your outdoor living area. Not only do they add to the decor but they are the place where most of the entertaining and conversations take place.
There are many things that you need to think about when researching backyard fireplaces. What are you going to use it for? Do you want someting fancy or plainer? What type of design do you want? How much room is in the backyard or on the patio for a fireplace? These are just a few of the questions you should ask yourself while you are researching.
The least durable backyard fireplaces will be made of thin metals and clay. They will also be less expensive. The more durable ones would be made of stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum. Copper is also quite durable, but you need to know that it does oxidize and will change color from golden-bronze to a greenish hue. Also, you should be aware of the fact that iron may rust if left out in the rain and snow.
You will find backyard fireplaces that are fueled by wood, natural gas, liquid and gel. The gases burn cleaner and there is less mess than wood. Of course, with wood fireplaces you will have more work to do such as cutting the wood for the fire but many people enjoy the crackle and pop of a real outdoor fire. If you choose natural gas, you will need to install the gas line and the fireplace will be placed in a permanent location rather than being able to move it around.
There are many different styles of backyard fireplaces available. The chiminea, also known as a Mexican fireplace, has an opening into a large belly where you build the fire. It has a tall chimney helping with the ventilation of the smoke up and away from people sitting around it. The chiminea is portable, so a lot of people enjoy it for this reason. Sometimes you will find these backyard fireplaces sometimes have an opening that goes all the way through the construct rather than just in front and sometimes they even have openings that wrap around or near it. You will find chimineas that are made of clay, cast iron, aluminum or copper.
Outdoor fire pits are another form of backyard fireplaces. Some people also call these fire bowls. The fire pit is the most portable of all of the backyard fireplaces and also takes up the least amount of space. They are ventless and do not have chimneys. Fire pits can be bowls, pots and pits that hold the fire within its boundaries. You may find some fire pits that come with wheels for easier portability. Without having a chimney to force the smoke away from your guests, it could be a little smokier than the other backyard fireplaces.
Fire rings are also sometime called fire pits. Fire rings are similar to what you find in a campground. They are simply containment areas for the backyard fire. These are the least expensive of all the backyard fireplaces. You can easily place a grill over the top for cooking.
Finally backyard fireplaces can be just that, fireplaces. This style looks like your regular indoor fireplace but freestanding rather than a part of a wall. The use of spark screens will keep the embers from escaping, protecting the surroundings. These fireplaces may also come with louvers that will help control the heat. These types of fireplaces are the most controlled, although they are definitely not portable. They are also the most expensive types to puchase. You need to hire someone to construct the hearth and surrounds or be able to do it yourself as well as purchasing the fire unit. The good news is this allows you to choose the type of material that you want. You can also find fireplace kits, although they will still need to be built and put together in some way depending on the fireplace kit purchased.
Pricing varies with the many types of backyard fireplaces to choose from. Chimineas can cost anywhere from $150 to $600. Smaller, plainer outdoor fire pits can be found for around $100. Larger and fancier ones, such as fire tables, sell for $1000 to $2000. Fire rings, being the least expensive, can be found for $100 or less. The fire units for the true outdoor fireplaces are anywhere from $500 to $2500 but you also need to purchase the materials as well as maybe having to hire someone.
Now that you know the choices that are out there for backyard fireplaces, as well as the pros and cons, its time to start choosing what you would like and imagine how it will fit in your outdoor living space. Make sure that it fits well into the space available as well as into the scheme of the landscaping. One last thing you might want to think about is if you want to cook on it or just enjoy the fire. Once you have decided all of this, as well as what you want it to look like, you are ready to go shopping and start enjoying your evenings in your backyard even more.
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