6Aug
Here Are 8 Reasons Why You Should Install A New Fireplace
Are you thinking of spicing up your outdoor area while providing some warmth and ambiance? If so, then an outdoor fireplace could be the ideal choice for you.
More and more Canadian homes are investing in this. About 25% of all homes in Canada have a fireplace.
Why to get an outdoor fireplace?
Doing so can invite friends, family, and neighbours outside more often to your yard. Whether you have a small family space or a large, expansive patio, building an outdoor fireplace can be a great investment that you’ll use for years to come.
See below for several reasons why you should invest in building an outdoor fireplace this winter.
How Does an Outdoor Fireplace Work?
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t enjoy the fun, relaxation (and smores!) that come with a good old-fashioned bonfire during the summer? For many of us, however, installing a bonfire pit in our yards is not a realistic option for all of us. Sometimes the space is simply too small, or there are bylaws in place that prohibit open fires in our area. That’s where an outdoor fireplace comes in.
Outdoor fireplaces are constructed similarly to their indoor counterparts, and are usually added to a concrete, stone or brick patio. It adds a touch of elegance to our yards, patios and gardens, while also being incredibly functional and easy to install. Plus, the smoke is directed up and out of the chimney – not in you and your loved ones’ faces, so you can say goodbye to scooting your chair around every time the wind changes direction. It usually consists of a firebox and chimney, and can be cleaned and maintained with the same tools you’d use for your indoor fireplace.
However, since it’s outside, you won’t need to clean your outdoor fireplace quite as often as you would if it was indoors. Because chimney draft is not always a concern for an outdoor fireplace, it won’t necessarily need a smoke shelf – although some designs do include one. Outdoor fireplaces are also less expensive to install because they do not require venting, so the installation is quite simple in comparison with an indoor fireplace.
Why Should You Get An Outdoor Fireplace?
So, you may be curious as to why you should build a fireplace in your backyard. Let’s dive deeper into some of our top reasons.
Adds a Focal Point to Your Patio Area
The first thing that it can do for you is to add a focal point to your patio area. Right now, you may have a backyard that is simply flat with green grass.
Most people have backyards like this, so what makes your backyard memorable? Having a fireplace in it can certainly create an anchoring memory for your backyard.
More Backyard Use
Another benefit to an outdoor fireplace is that you will likely use your backyard more often.
It can help create more excuses to hang out in your backyard. For example, you may have your friends over to hang out. Instead of sitting on the couch in your living room, they may notice your fireplace and want to spend time outside.
A fireplace also gives a reason why people should look at your backyard. With nothing else set up, you may struggle to come up with reasons to hang out there.
Relaxation
Having a fireplace in your backyard can add an element of relaxation to your backyard. You can take in the fresh air while feeling the warmth that the fireplace offers you.
Best of all, the only thing that you have to do here is sit back, relax, and enjoy it. This can create nights where you can just sit and think or nights to relax with friends and family.
Great For Gatherings
Having a fireplace can encourage people to come over to your house to hang out. For example, your friends may want to go out to a bar but not want to spend the money there. Instead, you can buy a bottle at a store and drink it around your fireplace.
Another example can be deciding where to have a family gathering. With your fireplace, people can know that they can extend their outings longer outdoors because of this option.
Prolonging Outdoor Season
Let’s face it, in Canada, it can get pretty cold most of the year. It can get as low as -40 degrees Celsius. However, summer temperatures can be more generous, ranging around 20 degrees Celsius on the coasts.
What this means is that at night and during the shoulder seasons, it may be a bit chilly to hang out outside. Having a fireplace can fix that because it provides the warmth that you need.
Help Against Bugs
One disadvantage of spending time outside is that in some areas, bugs love to bother people. This can particularly be a problem on warm nights when mosquitos are more active.
That can be uncomfortable for some people and discourage them from hanging out outside. Well, what if you could get rid of that problem?
You can with a fireplace. Like every other living thing, there is only a certain amount of heat that bugs can handle. Having a fireplace and feeling the heat that it provides can discourage bugs from going near that area.
That can help keep the bugs away and help you enjoy your time outside free of bugs.
Adds Value To Your Home
Does an outdoor fireplace add value to a home? The answer is most likely yes.
Think about it. A fireplace can make your backyard stand out and, as discussed above, encourage gatherings to take place.
People want to imagine the best uses that they can get out of a home. When people look at the outdoor fireplace, they can imagine having their friends and family over to their house to enjoy it.
With a plain backyard, it might be tough to imagine many uses for this. Having a fireplace gives people a clear image, and as a result, they may want your home more.
Adds Character To Your Backyard
Finally, having an outdoor fireplace adds character to your backyard. With this, your backyard has an identity and a clear purpose.
It is a backyard that is trying to stand out and be different from the rest. It is also one that goes above the minimum effort that a backyard usually has.
This backyard wants you to remember it and show that it is providing respect for the place where the owner lives. People may be more likely to think that you are welcoming them to your home and that you take pride in your home.
Types of Outdoor Fireplaces:
Just like with an indoor fireplace, there are a variety of different types of outdoor fireplaces, each with their own pros and cons. The type of outdoor fireplace you decide on will depend on what you want to get out of it, how often you want to use it, price, the level of maintenance you’re willing to perform and more.
Some of the most popular types of outdoor fireplaces are:
Wood Burning
Wood-burning outdoor fireplaces are still one of the most popular choices among buyers. This is partially because no one can resist the classic ambiance that comes with a crackling wood fire. However, because it’s not connected to a gas line, a wood-burning fireplace is also a good choice because it can be installed anywhere on the property. They’re also quite cheap and easy to install.
There is a slight downside – but only if you’re the type of person who is averse to performing maintenance! Wood burning fireplaces can have ash buildup, so they require pretty frequent cleaning in comparison with other types of outdoor fire features. They also require a steady supply of wood to keep them going, although some may argue that this is part of what makes them so charming!
Gas Burning
Gas-burning fireplaces are also quite popular because they have the convenience factor that wood-burning fireplaces lack. Gas fireplaces can be turned on and off with the flip of a switch, and require little cleaning and maintenance. They can also be quite sleek and stylish and do not take up as much space as a wood-burning fireplace. Outdoor gas fireplaces come in a variety of colours and styles, so you’ll have no problem matching it to your décor. Plus, they’re a good long-term investment because you don’t have to spend money on wood to keep it going.
However, gas-burning fireplaces can be more expensive to install because they must be connected to your property’s gas line. You will be a little more limited as to where you can place it – the further from your house the gas line will have to run, the more expensive it will be to install. But for those who choose a gas fireplace, the convenience of using it after the installation is complete is definitely worth it.
Freestanding
A freestanding outdoor fireplace (also known as a chiminea) can be a convenient choice because they are portable and require very little installation to get up and running. They come in a variety of styles and are usually wood burning, with a small chimney (or open sides built from metal caging) to vent the smoke. Since they are almost completely enclosed, a freestanding fireplace is one of the safest options for households with pets and small children.
Most freestanding outdoor fireplaces do vent the smoke upward, effectively keeping it out of your guests’ eyes. However, as they are smaller than a traditional wood-burning fireplace, an errant gust of wind can still cause problems. For this reason, the best types of wood to use with a freestanding fireplace are ones that produce less smoke, such as hickory, mesquite, and cedar (although any type can be used).
Table
This is one of the most distinctive types of outdoor fire features and can be an amazing fit for small spaces. Fire tables are built with both function and aesthetics in mind, providing you with a small fire in the centre that emits plenty of warmth and ambiance while at the same time giving you a surface to set your food, drinks and other items.
Fire tables are usually gas or electric – they are almost never wood-burning. However, some fire tables come with an insert so that they may double as a coal-burning barbecue for cooking.
Much like a gas fireplace, a fire table gives you a variety of style options. They come in many styles and colours to match your décor, and depending on your needs, can range from coffee tables to end tables to dining tables and even to bar tables.
The Takeaway
An outdoor fireplace is one of the most sought-after outdoor features among homeowners and buyers today, second only to a swimming pool. If you’ve been looking to revamp your outdoor space by adding a fire feature, there has never been a better time. If you were looking for a reason to get one – we hope you found one among these eight. It is a great outdoor space setup that can add a lot of character and identity to your backyard.
It is also something that can be used as an opportunity to create memories with your family and friends.
Do you want to know more about building a fireplace? Message us today to get more details.