Make your Backyard Better with an Outdoor Stone Fireplace

An outdoor stone fireplace is one of the more relaxing and enjoyable places for friends and family to gather. It is the default centerpiece of every outdoor family setting and conjures up images of food being cooked over an open flame. The dramatic value and ambiance are enough to put having a fireplace on every homeowner’s wish list if it isn’t already.

Do-it-yourselfers should know what is involved before attempting to set up a fireplace on their own. In this article, we’ll discuss what is involved with building an outdoor fireplace using a DIY kit.

Important Design Decisions Before Choosing an Outdoor Stone Fireplace

Now before you start searching for DIY outdoor fireplace kits, it is important to keep in mind that the design should reflect the purpose of the fireplace. For instance, will it be used to entertain large groups or will you perhaps use it to prepare food? And you might also want the fireplace to be the perfect spot to spend some cozy romantic evenings.

Colonial Outdoor Fireplace-pic2167The fireplace should also enhance the landscape and accentuate the architectural design of the home. People who have a Greek revival or perhaps a colonial-style home, for instance, will probably want to invest in a more classic style fireplace.

You will also want to consider how the fireplace will look from different vantage points in and around your home. A large fireplace is going to be an important investment. So if it can also be seen from just about every angle from inside the house, then it will help make that investment all the more worthwhile.

Finally, you will want to provide plenty of room around the fireplace. There should be at least five feet of clear space in front of your fireplace to make seating comfortable. Any closer and people can feel too warm, and if they’re any further away they may be left feeling chilly on those extra-cool evenings.

DIY Outdoor Fireplace Kits

When buying a DIY kit, you get to choose from either “natural stone” or “thin stone veneer” kits. Natural thin stone veneer can be used like most types of stone facades. You build the fireplace using fire brick or stones. And the stone veneer can then be installed on the outside of the structure. The beauty is that, other than you, nobody else will be able to tell whether you’ve used a half-inch veneer, a one-inch cladding, or even full-sized 10-inch stones. However, if you do make the decision to use stone veneer, you will save a great deal of money compared to using full-bed stone.

You can choose from a pretty large selection of styles, from round cuts to square, to very naturally-shaped stones. Veneers are also available in several different textures and colors. Most of all, they look like real stones because they are real stones. Applying them is as easy as prepping the surface, layering mortar, and then pasting the stones with mortar in between them.

Conclusion

DIY outdoor fireplace kits simplify the process of building your fireplace with step-by-step instructions. You also receive all the required materials and will learn about building the proper foundation required to support the structure. You have options for accessories as well as for sizes and styles. Most of all, you’ll be saving a few bucks while ensuring elegance by choosing outdoor fireplace plans using natural stones.

Want to learn more or purchase an outdoor fireplace kit?
Contact Southwest Stone Supply to learn more.

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