The Stonemason Blog -Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits

As it is that time of year in Perth, W.A where the majority of people tend to seek out a source of heat rather than the air conditioner, nothing beats an open flame to make you feel all warm and cosy.

With this in mind, if the thought of an outdoor fireplace or fire pit would make a great addition to your outdoor entertaining area here are a few things to consider.

Cost

The cost of anything structural in your outdoor area can vary from relatively inexpensive to a major outdoor living project. The best way to look at this outlay is that with the best design and planning in place, anything that you include that enhances your outdoor area and home lifestyle can be considered an investment as it would also add monetary value to your property.

Design

Fire pits

Homeowners with existing outdoor entertaining areas sometimes want to just add a fire pit to tie in with their surroundings. These can be relatively low cost for a low level brick or stone fire pit, especially if using existing grass or paving as the surrounding area.

Another option is to create a separate area from the existing house/alfresco where it still compliments what is already there but can have its own style which really opens up the choice of material selections and can incorporate matching bench seats, paving, etc.

These fire pits are great for the dry winter nights to still be able to enjoy the outdoors and are also a great way to keep those pesky bugs at bay.

Fireplaces

Outdoor fireplaces are quickly becoming one of the dream additions to people’s alfresco areas here in W.A, especially when incorporated under a roof or semi enclosed area so they can be enjoyed even on those rainy nights.

The cost of an outdoor fireplace would be a more expensive option than the standard fire pit to build but for the majority the benefits would be worthwhile. As we all know, the wind here in W.A can be fairly frequent which is not ideal when you all have to sit around one side of a fire pit to avoid a steady face full of smoke! With an outdoor fireplace this isn’t an issue as the smoke disappears up the chimney and leaves you to just enjoy the cosy warmth coming off.

Another benefit of an outdoor fireplace is that it generally needs a smaller footprint to build than a fire pit so it leaves you with more room to utilise. When positioned correctly, an outdoor fireplace can also be built to be used as a screen for privacy or as a wind block. With good forward planning to include a power point and tv aerial during the construction, a recessed area above the opening is a great spot to hang a tv and spend those long winter nights enjoying your favourite show or watching a game.

With the correct design both a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace can also be used as a source for cooking, especially when incorporated as part of an outdoor kitchen, I will cover this in more detail in my next blog, Outdoor kitchens.

Contractors

With the Perth building industry booming at the moment, hiring a designer or tradie can be a daunting task. My biggest advice has always been to make sure you do your research on who you are hiring to undertake your projects and don’t compromise on quality due to availability. The people at the top of their game will always be busy but they will generally charge as a reflection to their worth and the quality you will receive rather than just inflating their prices in a demanding market. In this day and age most companies/trades can be researched through their websites and social media so a little bit of homework beforehand could avoid a lot of heartache down the track.

If you would like any additional information on these topics or would like to arrange a free estimate, please contact us here nick@brickandstonecreations.com