Things To Remember When Planning An Outdoor Fireplace

These days, decks and patios tend be furnished like outdoor living rooms, with teak furniture upholstered in decorator fabrics. So it only makes sense that they should have their own glowing hearths. The outdoor fireplace, long regarded as a California fixture, is catching on elsewhere, often in a portable form. More than a half-million consumers placed a heating appliance on decks,
porches or patios in 2003.

Outdoor fireplaces have taken the place of water features as must-haves. Years ago, it was more common for families to gather around the stone or brick barbecue pit for outdoor picnics. Today\'s fireplaces are more decorative than
practical, although people say they still roast marshmallows over the coals. Outdoor fireplaces are fueled by gas, electricity, wood, pellets and
propane.

Things to remember when planning an outdoor fireplace:

\"Check with your homeowners or neighborhood association to make sure the fireplace project is allowed. Check with your city or county building
department to see if a building permit is required before beginning construction.

\"Metal, prefabricated fireboxes will rust when exposed to rain or snow. Masonry construction is preferred for longevity and ease of maintenance.

\"Although fireplaces are sometimes incorporated into porches, it\'s important to remember that they give off sparks that can ignite building materials or nearby trees and shrubs. Make sure the chimney does not vent into a tree canopy. Have a professional design the fireplace to ensure
safety.

\"New materials, such as Fire Rock\'s pre-engineered fireplace system, make building a masonry fireplace quicker and less expensive than a hand-built, brick and mortar structure. It is cast from masonry material, which is not susceptible to rust. The components in the kit can be installed only one way, the company says. A reasonably handy homeowner could even install it himself. After installation, it may be covered with the finish material of choice - brick, stone, stucco or manufactured stone.

Those attempting to build one should remember to put in a drain to prevent water from collecting in the bottom. A piping system installed under the pit walls brings in air to help the fire burn correctly.

A custom-built patio fireplace can be expensive. A prefabricated unit costs
around $2,000, and \"the sky\'s the limit\" on the cost of the mantel, depending on its material and design. A fireplace built from scratch starts at about $8,000.

Firepits, while not quite as spectacular, perform a similar function - heating an outdoor seating area and providing a focal point. They are much less expensive also, from $1,000 to $5,000.

Chimineas (freestanding outdoor fireplaces) can be found for as little as $50.

A gas-powered fireplace combining fountain and flames by Travis Industries starts at $2,500.

Although outdoor fireplaces have been the addition of choice in luxury homes, the trend is fast catching on the middle segment houses also.

About The Author

Jane Harvard is a contributing author and publisher to
http://www.outdoorfireplacesadvice.com an online resource that provides you with information , articles of interest and a selection of the top outdoor fireplace retailers on the internet.