Fire Pits – Page 2 – Outdoor Fireplaces

Pinion Wood

Once you have your outdoor fireplace or chiminea all set up, you’ll probably want to know a little bit about the different types of wood you can use to fuel the cozy warmth. One of the types of wood many people prefer for their outdoor fire pits and fireplaces is pinion wood.

Pinion wood is popular for a few reasons. For starters it has a wonderful aroma as it burns in your outside fireplace. It smells like pine, truly giving you the feeling of being in the great outdoors, which isn’t always easy to feel in the middle of suburbia. I’ve heard some people say that it smells like a fresh cut Christmas tree.

Another important benefit of burning pinion wood is that it repels mosquitoes. For many this may be the most important benefit because it allows you to enjoy being outside around your cozy outdoor fireplace without the unpleasant distraction of those pesky bugs and without having to slather on the not-so-pleasant bug spray. Some people even start a pinion wood fire when it’s still hot outside just to keep the bugs away because it’s so effective.

Along with these benefits pinion wood is also easy to light, it puts out a good amount of heat, it burns for a long time and once the fire is no longer burning you’ll find very little ash left to clean so it makes a great chiminea firewood. For the most part it’s a low maintenance fire wood making it even more tempting to enjoy outdoor fireplaces as often as you can.

If you want the pinion wood for your outdoor chiminea it won’t be a problem because many sellers will cut the wood to fit in chimineas or smaller outdoor fire pits. Some places where you buy pinion wood will even custom cut the wood for you.

Outdoor Patio Fireplace

by Charlie

Buying an outdoor fireplace for your patio is probably one of the most fun upgrades you can make to your outdoor living area. They have become so popular that you can find a wide variety of them from the portable outdoor fireplace to one that is fixed for a sturdy look that feels like an indoor fireplace, only under the stars. An outdoor patio fireplace along with some landscaping can truly transform the look and feel of your own back yard.

Types Of Outdoor Patio Fireplaces

Wood vs Gas
The type of outdoor fireplace you choose will depend on a few things, what is allowed in your city and county, the size of your patio and yard, and the look and feel you want to achieve. Once you find out what is allowed in your area you may need to decide whether you want to consider a wood burning fireplace or a gas fireplace. Outdoor wood burning fireplaces offer that crackling sound and the smokey smell. While the smoke may keep mosquitoes away you may not like the smell of it. Outdoor gas fireplaces burn cleaner and they are easier to light, but you need to choose what kind of gas and whether or not you’ll need a gas line installed.

Fixed vs Portable

The other big decision is whether you want a fixed fireplace, a fire pit or a portable fireplace. A fixed outdoor fireplace can be really beautiful and set the feel of the whole outdoor living space. They can be decorated with brick or rugged stone and created right into the landscape of your patio. If you think you can handle the job yourself you may consider looking at patio fireplace kits, as they can make the job easier while providing you with the materials needed to make the firebox which needs to withstand extremely high temperatures. These can also be decorated with stone and brick if you like the look of stone outdoor fireplaces and want to create your own design.

If you don’t have a very big patio or if you don’t want to commit to a fixed fireplace you might want to consider a portable fireplace. If you like the feel of an open campfire you might want to look at outdoor patio fire pits. These are raised fire pits that are typically pretty easy to move. You can buy either wood burning or outdoor gas fire pits.

Another type of outdoor patio fireplace is a chiminea. Chimineas are bulbous shaped fireplaces with a design that helps take the smoke straight up so it doesn’t blow in your face, but you still have the feel of crackling wood. They are enclosed, except for the door so you don’t have to worry about embers popping out like you do with outdoor fire pits.

Freestanding outdoor fireplaces are yet another option for your outdoor patio fireplace. Most of them are wood burning or gas fueled but you can find some that use other sources like gel fuel. Many of these keep the fire somewhat enclosed which can be safer if you have children or pets. But you can find versions that have a full 360 degree view or a partial view, whichever you prefer.

An outdoor patio fireplace can bring your patio to life, whether you want it for entertaining or for relaxing evenings at home. Just think about what you want from it before you start shopping so you can find the one that is right for you.

Outdoor Gas Fire Pit

by Charlie

Whether you’ve seen a fire pit nicely displayed at your local home improvement store or in your neighbor’s yard you may be tempted by them — and it’s not hard not to be. After all outdoor fireplaces provide a great centerpiece for a gathering or a quiet, relaxing evening. They provide a cozy, inviting atmosphere while they also offer comforting warmth on a slightly chilly evening.

While the original style of fire pit was pretty rudimentary with several rocks surrounding a hole in the ground, the outdoor fire pits of today offer a wide range of options from rustic to elegant. You can easily find patio fire pits to match any look you want to create in your back yard patio or outdoor room.

Advantages Of An Outdoor Gas Fire Pit

Outdoor gas fire pits are a good choice if you live in an area that has wood burning fire restrictions, but before you purchase any type of outdoor fireplace make sure you know what is allowed in your specific area.

A gas fire pit has a few advantages over a wood burning fire pit. It burns cleaner so you don’t have to worry about smoke drifting in your face or in your neighbor’s direction, and you also won’t have worry about cleaning the ash from it so it doesn’t blow into your yard. Both starting and extinguishing a fire is easy with gas fire pits, so if you only have a little time to sit outside you can still enjoy your outdoor fireplace without spending too much time lighting it and putting it out. They also allow you to have better control over the size of the fire, often with the easy use of a remote.

With an gas outdoor fire pit you can also make use of fire glass to create a distinct look, instead of using the more commonly seen gas logs or lava rocks.

Types of Gas Fire Pits

When it comes to gas fire pits you have a couple of choices based on the type of fuel you prefer. There are outdoor propane fire pits and natural gas fire pits. A propane fire pit is typically a little more versatile and many styles work well as a portable fireplace. Since varying sizes of propane tanks are usually easy to find a propane portable fire pit is something you can even take to a friend’s house or camping. If you have natural gas in your home you can have a professional run a gas line out to your natural gas fire pit so you have a constant fuel source without having to replace gas tanks.

If you want more of a fixed structure you can find an outdoor fireplace kit that will make it easier to install. Many outdoor fireplace kits provide a base structure that you can customize with things like brick or stone.

Before you start shopping think a little about what you want from your outdoor gas fire pit, and don’t forget to look at fire pit covers to protect your patio fireplace. You’ll be glad you did when you’re sitting around it enjoying a cozy fire.

Enchanting Flames

Types Of Outdoor Patio Fireplaces

Advantages Of An Outdoor Gas Fire Pit

Types of Gas Fire Pits