How to build an outdoor fireplace

Simple outdoor fire place

A fireplace is a structure which contains fire for heating as well as cooking. An important household feature for areas with severe cold, it has a pit containing fire, an exhaust and a chimney which directs gas.

There are two types of fire places:

1. Manufactured fireplaces

2. Masonry fire places made from bricks, stone or concrete.

The manufactured fire places are available in many designs and styles and are made from a variety of different materials such as iron, fiberglass, and brass. But the masonry is always the preferred one. It looks elegant, stylish, and is long lasting. An outdoor fire place has always been a trend in home decor. It is an attractive area to have family or friends gathering in chilly evenings.

Constructed outdoor fire place

  1. Building a fire place is not a rocket science
    It’s very easy and can be made by following some basic rules. The first important thing is to choose the place, where you want to build the fire place. While choosing a place keep in mind that it should be away from anything that can heat up and catch fire and there should be no overhead wires and underground pipes and wires. There should be no tree branches over the chosen place. Once the place is finalized clean it up and mark the desired width and shape of the fire place with some chalk powder and dig according to the mark. It should be dug down to a foot. This provides a strong base for the fire place.
  2. Level the bottom of the dug pit: It should be equal and smooth. Make the base firm and tight by using a soil tamper or if you want you can use concrete to make the base even.
  3. Building the walls
    When the leveling is complete start building the walls of the fire place by laying the first course of bricks inside the hole around the walls. Each brick should be laid side by side with no gaps between them. Use high temperature ready-mix mortar to bind the bricks together. Follow the instructions on the packet of the ready-mix mortar to mix and use it. Spread this mortar evenly on the first layer of the bricks and start laying the next row in the similar way. Make sure to coat the side of the bricks with this mortar so that they stick to each other well and hold together strongly. Fill in any gaps with this motor and keep adding rows till you reach at least 1 foot above the ground.
  4. Face of the fire place
    As you start building the wall above ground leave at least a 2 feet wide gap in front side of the fire place. The fireplace opening should be covered with a longer fire-resistant brick. Rows of bricks should be laid till you are ready to start building the chimney section.
  5. Chimney for the smoke
    To build the chimney insert a pipe over the fireplace opening hold it there and apply mortar all over to prevent it from falling out of place. You can keep something under it to hold it in place and once it sets in place remove the support. When the pipe is set in place continue laying the bricks.
  6. Finishing the top
    Lay the bricks around the pipe to keep it strongly in place. Keep laying the bricks till the pipe is covered completely. Pour gravel into the base of the fire place through the opening, level it up to 6 inches below the opening.
  7. Add you imagination to the exterior
    This is just the basic design of the fire pit. You can color it or add designs on the exterior as per your choice. Add all your imagination to give it a glamorous look.

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