Outdoor Fireplaces give you the right feel of real wood fire crackling anytime at your own backyard, the beach, or any outdoors. Appealing outdoor fireplaces are today available at affordable prices, are portable and are also
easy to use. In the presence of an outdoor fireplace family and friendly gatherings will also be much more fun due to the right amount of warmth that it will bring to your backyard, patio and pool area.
Outdoor fireplaces are built just like indoor fireplaces except that you dont need a damper and usually the clearance-to-combustibles and other code issues are easier to follow.
Outdoor fireplaces may smoke in a breeze so shelter the fireplace from the wind and build the chimney as tall as you can.
You can add a chimney pot to increase the effective height of the chimney.
Outdoor fireplaces can add an extra element of coziness to outdoor living, and are great for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs, or just kicking back when the sun goes down. Unlike bonfires, commercial backyard fireplaces usually dont require a burning permit.
The state Department of Conservations Forest Protection Division regulates outdoor burning, and every town has different burning ordinances, so check with your local fire department for
restrictions before purchasing an outdoor
fire unit.
One of the most popular and affordable options for creating a backyard fire is the chiminea. Named after the Spanish word "chimenea," meaning fireplace, chimineas are outdoor fireplaces featuring a bowl-shaped base with a single
opening connected to a stack or chimney. The design draws air into the fire and directs smoke out of the top of the stack.
Chimineas originated hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago by Mexican tribesmen who developed the fireplace for heating as well as cooking. Today, a wide selection of materials are used for chimineas, such as etched cast iron, aluminium, clay and terra cotta, and most use the same original design. You can find them at home and garden stores, hardware stores and most
businesses that carry outdoor grills. Cast iron and cast aluminum chimineas are in high demand.
Chimineas are intended for small, ambient flame, so if you want a larger fire, cast-iron models are more expensive but are highly durable and can withstand roaring flames and high temperatures. High-end models feature safety
grills and pitched chimney stacks to contain hot ash and embers, and start around $400.
Less expensive metal fireplaces, such as a grated cylinder-style fireplace, can be found at discount department stores and cost around $150 to $250. Some models come with wheels and can be easily moved from the deck to the yard. And if you are in the market for a new chimney, you may want to consider building one with both an indoor and outdoor fireplace.
About The Author
Jane Harvard is a contributing author and publisher to
http://www.outdoorfireplacesadvice.com an online resource that provides you with information , articles of interest and a selection of the top outdoor fireplace retailers on the internet.