Since the beginning of time, families and friends have gathered around fires for companionship, dining, and entertaining. As the patio and garden evolve into outdoor entertainment rooms, many people are looking for ways to add outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, or fire bowls to their outdoor spaces. But not all outdoor fireplaces and fire pits will serve you equally well. Below are some tips for selecting an outdoor fireplace, fire bowl, or fire pit that will best serve your needs:
?Consider your needs. Before buying, consider what you want from your outdoor fireplace or fire pit. Are you looking primarily for heat to take the chill off the evenings so you can enjoy your outdoor space for more of the year? Are you mainly looking for a fire everyone can gather around for socializing? Do you also want the ability to cook over the flames of your fire?
?Height matters. A fire pit in or on the ground gives a real campfire feel. Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits that elevate the fire bowl place the fire closer to eye-level viewing yet usually low enough to see over from a seated position. Do you want to be able to visit easily with people sitting on the other side of the fire? If so, you will probably prefer an outdoor fireplace or fire pit that you can see over when seated.
?All fires have some smoke. If avoiding smoke is important to your enjoyment of your outdoor fireplace or fire pit, consider one with a chimney that directs the smoke up and away from you or one with tempered glass sides.
?Iron eventually will rust. Even the finest, exterior grade wrought iron will eventually rust. Touch up any scratches with a rust-preventative, high temperature rated paint to extend the life of any outdoor fireplace or fire pit with wrought iron components. Neither stainless steel nor copper will rust.
?Does portability matter to you? If you think you might want to take your fire pit to the lake or beach, to the mountains or park, to the tail gate party or the family reunion, to the back of the garden or to the patio, then an outdoor fire pit or fireplace that you can move may be more appropriate for you. Some have wheels, others are lightweight enough to move easily, and some even fold for portability and come with carrying cases.
With a bit of forethought to your needs and planned use, you can select the perfect outdoor fire pit, fireplace, or fire bowl for your needs.
Although the summer season is coming, many people are looking towards their fireplace as a great place to spend time with friends and family in the warm months - not an indoor fireplace, but a semi-portable design often located on a back deck or in the backyard. These outdoor fireplaces provide ambience to any outdoor evening gathering, less expensively than many people think.
The most common kind of outdoor fireplace is known as a chiminea, consisting of a concave base, a single opening through which to feed the fire, and a short chimney or smoke stack. These small outdoor fireplaces are often made of cast iron, aluminum, ceramic or terra cotta, and although they are intended mostly for small fires, there are larger and more durable units (generally cast iron) which are intended for a controlled but roaring bonfire in the safety of your own back yard.
Chimineas and other outdoor fireplaces are designed for use in the summer with the intention of winter storage, since the clay or terra cotta based units can actually crack in extremely cold winter temperatures. Cast iron chimineas or outdoor fireplaces are not at risk for cracking, but snow and other precipitation will quickly cause them to rust. These outdoor fireplaces tend to range in price from $150 all the way up to well over $500 depending on the material, size, and the extra safety or comfort features that you happen to choose.
Some have safety grills and pitched chimney stacks to keep hot embers or ash from floating away and creating a fire hazard, while others are no more than a firebox with an open stack. Regardless of the type of chiminea or outdoor fireplace, only firewood should be burned in it. Other substances may give off toxic chemicals that can ruin the atmosphere of your gathering both literally and figuratively, and some fuels may leave hard to clean deposits on the inside of the fireplace.
Outdoor fireplaces are an increasingly popular way for people to gather together, experiencing the outdoors without traveling too far from home ? in the evening when the air grows cooler and some brave souls venture past the air conditioning. If you think back towards childhood memories of open campfires, an outdoor woodstove might just be the thing to try.
Both Susan Penney & Kim Filler are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kim Filler has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Latest Election News and Fitness. Kim Filler loves to sit in her favorite chair watching the flames dance in her fireplace. When she is not trying to build the perfect fire, she writes for fireplacesandwoodstoves.com ? an informative website with information about. Kim Filler's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.