The first idea people get when they think of fireplaces is usually a hearth in someone's living room. Admit it; your first thought was of a roaring fire in a quaint cabin. It is rare to find someone whose first thought is of an outdoor fireplace. This does not mean that there are plenty of options available when it comes to outdoor fireplace designs. Even more, they can add an ambiance to your home that cannot be found any other way.
There are very few people who stop to consider the options available when it comes to an outdoor fireplace design. When set up correctly, they can extend the living space of your home by quite a bit--even in the colder months of the year! Many people find that having a fireplace in their yard adds some comfort to the yard that they cannot find elsewhere.
When you start thinking of adding an outdoor fireplace to your home, the first thing you need to find out is the building code for your local area. Some areas have very strict codes regarding outdoor designs, while other areas have very lenient codes. Ask someone at your city and county governmental offices for the codes that your fireplace must adhere to. The last thing you want to do is build something and then find out that, because it doesn't meet the local code, it has to be torn out and rebuilt.
Some places require home owners to apply for permission before they start building any new unit on their property. Make sure you have the correct forms if you live in an area that requires an application. You don't want to waste time by filling out an outdated application. Even worse, you don't want to start building only to find out that you were required to submit an application. Double check to ensure that your information is up to date.
After obtaining permission, you need to decide what kind of outdoor fireplace design suits you the best. Most people opt for stone when it comes to fireplaces that are built outside, but there are other options available to you as well, especially if you aren't interested in pursuing a traditional looking design. Some people choose to build fireplaces that aren't entirely contained. If you are pursuing this idea, you might best be suited with a brick fire pit as these can also be used for grilling.
There are many choices to pick from when deciding upon any kind of outdoor fireplace designs. Unfortunately, these are not something that can be changed easily, so make sure you will love your design for the foreseeable future!
By:Peqqy Edwards
| 