Build your own outdoor fireplace – Part 2

You’ve done your legwork by figuring out where you want to place your outdoor fireplace. He has made sure that he can build one legally and that his homeowners association approves it. He has checked for underground obstructions and feels he has a safe place from fire danger. The decisions from this point on can be the most important and certainly the most fun because they involve the actual design of your fireplace.

Most likely, you have gone online and browsed through the vast number of pictures of outdoor fireplaces. There are so many different and unique designs and chances are you have found one or two that you can imagine in your backyard. Everyone’s taste is a little different, so it’s a good idea to print out pictures of the fireplaces you like and make a list of the features of each that you want to incorporate into your design. Do you want a picturesque fireplace or a massive structure? Do you want a shelf or a shelf? Do you want integrated seats? Do you like the square or arched opening of the hearth? It seems that the problems related to the design of outdoor fireplaces never stop.

Once you’ve figured out the general shape and structural features you want your fireplace to have, you’ll need to think about finishing issues. Some examples are brick, faux stone, tile, stucco, paint, tile, etc. More considerations will be whether you want to light your fireplace and whether it will burn wood or natural gas. You should definitely keep these things in mind before you start building your fireplace to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible. The last thing you want to do is dismantle your project because you forgot or decided later to add the gas line or electrical line for the lights. You will be happy if you plan everything in advance.

There are many building materials available and some are much easier to use than others when building your fireplace. There are also prefabricated combustion chamber kits available that simplify the project in some aspects. They also provide a professional look, but can be quite expensive. For general construction, you can build with wood, metal framing, and/or cinder blocks. Block construction seems to be the most widely used construction method for outdoor fireplaces, as it “stacks” them to achieve the final design. Obviously more complicated than just stacking blocks as mortar is used and blocks may need to be cut. The block is, however, very sturdy and the fireplace is likely to outlive you. When building an exterior chimney with block, you can build the firebox as the chimney is built. In essence, the firebox becomes part of the main structure of the fireplace. This way of construction will eliminate some of the cost of having to purchase a pre-made firebox kit.