Many happy memories are created as you sit around the fire with your family and friends sharing good times. However, to ensure that all of your memories around the fireside are happy, here are some good tips to keep in mind as you embark on your search for
perfect outdoor fireplace designs.
Outdoor fireplace designs will range from the basic blueprint, which gives an elementary idea of the finished product to extremely detailed plans that take you from the initial concept to completion of the finished product. Think about the materials you will use to build the fireplace. Outdoor fireplace designs can utilize a number of building materials including brick, stone, concrete, stucco and slate to name a few. Brick outdoor fireplace designs provide rustic appeal while meeting the needs of a pragmatic buyer who is concerned about the fireplaces ability to weather the elements. Outdoor stone fireplace designs or outdoor fire pit lend themselves well to backyard garden areas that are teeming with flowers.
Here are some factors to consider as you approach the subject of how to design an outdoor fireplace:
Consider your homes size and your backyards size. Think about where you will place it in the backyard. Decide if you want the fireplace to stand on a grassy area, a patio or to actually be attached to your house. Do not build your fireplace upwind of your house. This is particularly important if you are building a fireplace that will burn wood as its main fuel as your house will be invaded by smoke. The smoky smell can linger for days.
Do you want the fireplace close to the back door of your house for easy transfer of food and beverages? How close will it be to your neighbors home? Will smoke waft into their home and cause possible problems down the road?
Try to build the fireplace in a sheltered area out of the wind so it does not smoke excessively. To help ensure that your fireplace drafts well, make the opening to the fireplace a little lower. Have the chimney built as tall as possible to avoid the smoke getting caught in turbulent downdrafts. If your fireplace will be surrounded by tall trees or houses, build the chimney as high as possible. Chimney pots will also increase the effectiveness of your chimneys height. Definitely use a screen or glass door to deal with breezes or strong winds.
Think about how large you want the firebox to be. A larger firebox will accommodate good size logs. Smaller fireboxes will require that you cut firewood to size, which will require more labor on your part or paying someone else to do it for you. If you order the wood from a supplier and have to have it custom cut, you can expect to pay substantially more. Dont feel obligated to build a large fire in a large firebox. If you prefer smaller fires, just use less wood. Outdoor fireplaces can also be fueled with pellets, gas and propane.
Give consideration to any additions you may be planning in the future as clearances that may be acceptable now with the present house design may not be acceptable in the future due to the location of the fireplace. Check with your city or county for any permits and zoning ordinances, etc. that may affect your building a fireplace.
Hopefully, these considerations will make the process of choosing an outdoor fireplace design easier and put you well on the way to creating happy memories.