Choosing the Right Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit for Your Landscape
We hate to bring this up, but when summer ends, the temperature starts to fall. Crazy, right? We bet you aren’t ready to head inside for winter just yet – luckily there is a solution to the inevitable changing of seasons.
With a new outdoor fireplace or fire pit, your friends and family can enjoy the outdoors all year long, even during the colder months. Team Keane, your Dallas-Fort Worth landscaping company, can walk you through everything you need to know about installing a new outdoor fireplace or fire pit.
Reasons Your Landscape Needs an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit
- A great source of heat and light to extend your outdoor season.
- They’re wonderful gathering places for family and friends.
- There are virtually no style limitations, your fireplace can look however you’d like.
- You’ll use your backyard more often. Less time in front of the television is always a good thing for everyone.
- Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits increase the value of your home.
Installing Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits: What You Need to Know
If you are thinking of upgrading your landscape with an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, there are a few questions you should ask yourself before you dive into this new project.
- What kind of outdoor fireplace or fire pit do you want?
Depending on your needs, a fireplace or fire pit may better suit your landscape. You can choose between custom built-in fireplaces and fire pits, prefab fireplaces and fire pits, or portable fire pits. Fireplaces and fire pits can come in any number of shapes and sizes as well, so remember to think out of the box.
Types of Outdoor Fireplaces
- Traditional: Typically built with stone or brick. Looks more like a fireplace you’d expect to see inside of your home.
- Southwestern: Usually rounded or sloping in shape, and built with adobe or stucco.
- Modern: Find simplicity in clean, straight lines. Typically rectangular with few embellishments.
- Mediterranean: Adorned with colorful tiles, built with multiple materials and shades.
- How many guests will you entertain?
This question is extremely important. You need to consider how large the fire pit will be, the amount of seating you’ll need, and where in your landscape the fireplace or fire pit will fit, along with you and your guests.
Two Types of Fire Pit Seating
- Patio furniture (avoid metal, as it can heat up and burn you)
- Built-in seating
- What will you use for fuel?
Before making a decision, weigh the pros and cons of wood-burning fireplaces, gas fireplaces, and electric fireplaces.
Pros and Cons of Outdoor Fireplace Fuels
- Wood Pros: Ambiance, smell, and authenticity. Still works when the power is out.
- Wood Cons: Need to keep logs on hand. Stinky clothing. Not particularly efficient. Unsafe to leave unattended. Lighting a fire takes time.
- Gas Pros: Fire is instantaneous with the flip of a switch or turn of a knob. Efficient. Minimal upkeep. Works when the power is out.
- Gas Cons: Need a gas line. No authenticity of smell or sound (no crackling or popping).
- Electric Pros: The least expensive. Easy installation.
- Electric Cons: Fire is very clearly fake. Will not work when the power goes out.
- With what material will the fire pit or fireplace be constructed?
You want the stone to match the rest of your landscape’s design, complement your home’s exterior, and fit into your budget.
Common Outdoor Fireplace and Fire Pit Materials
- Brick
- Stone
- Stucco/Adobe
- Concrete
Your Dallas-Fort Worth Landscaping Company
Are you interested in adding an outdoor fireplace or fire pit to your landscape? Contact Keane Landscaping today for more information or a free estimate. You can call us at 972.424.4851 or fill out the contact form on our website and we’ll get back to you right away.
