|
FireplaceGuide.com How to choose a gas fireplace, wood stove, or pellet stove 
|
||
|
Home Contact Us Interesting Links Disclaimer |
FireplaceGuide.com » Outdoor Fireplaces and Chimeneas
When you are sitting outdoors on a beautiful starry night, you need a little something to keep you warm and let you stay outdoors. This is where an outdoor fireplace can help you and there are many different kinds for you to choose from. Outdoor fireplaces are designed for patios and gardens so you can take advantage of being outdoors all year round. Outdoor fireplaces are much safer than building a campfire in the backyard to let you warm your hands and feet. With one of the cast iron models of fireplaces suitable for the outdoors, you can heat up the water for hot chocolate or roast marshmallows just as you can with an open fire. However, there is less danger of being burned when you use a fireplace. One type of outdoor fireplace you can have is called the chimenea. This is a modern style of the traditional Mexican fireplace. It looks like an old-fashioned stove with a long chimney and is usually made from cast iron, cast aluminum or clay. However, when choosing a chimenea for your backyard or patio, you should avoid the models made from clay because they are expensive to maintain. They are more for decoration than heat. The chimineas made from cast iron and cast aluminum are well able to withstand the roaring fire that you often need for heat in cold temperatures. They are very heavy so you do need to place them in the position where they will provide the most heat to avoid having to move it constantly. Another type of outdoor fireplace that is very popular is the fire pit. This doesn't mean digging a hole and lining it with stones. It is a type of stove with a round bottom and a grill over the top to prevent the flames and ash from coming out through. These fireplaces are generally made from brick or cement - two materials well able to withstand high temperatures. You can have this built into the design of your patio, but you can also buy the fire pits that stand on the patio. These are usually made from copper, aluminum or steel. Some of them even have wheels so you can move them wherever is most advantageous for you. You will find that most people like pull up their chairs around this type of fireplace and relax while enjoying a warm drink and good conversation. Whichever model of outdoor fireplace you prefer you do need to position it correctly on the patio. You should never have it inside a gazebo or an enclosure and have it at least 20 feet away from the house. You also have to make sure it is not close to any umbrellas or tree branches that might catch fire. The surface under the fireplace outdoors should be made of slate, brick or some other non-flammable material. You can also buy a small portable outdoor fireplace. This is the perfect one for you if you like going on camping trips. You can easily take it in your RV and have it outdoors during the summer nights when you are camping at a park. Nothing draws people together like a campfire and you just may make lasting friends because of your portable fire pit. |
|
|
Copyright © FireplaceGuide.com, All Rights Reserved. This site is protected by international copyright law. All information is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed. Consult a local hearth dealer or installer for assistance. All brands and models are registered trademarks of their respective owners. FireplaceGuide.com is an informational site and is not affiliated with, nor are we a dealer for, any fireplace or hearth product manufacturer listed here. All photographs are used with permission. |
||