Outdoor fireplaces: Brick fireplace considerations

Among the myriad options for illuminating and warming up your outdoor living space, the most cozy and luxurious are outdoor fireplaces. Brick, stone, concrete and other materials can be used to create stunning outdoor fire features in a wide range of design styles.

For DIY-enthusiasts, the prospect of building an outdoor fireplace might be an attractive one. However, it’s important to understand the scope and demands of the project before you get started.

To help you decide if building your own fireplace is the right move, here are some major things to consider:

Building permits & codes

One of the first things you need to consider before building an outdoor fireplace is whether you need a permit. Some communities require specific licenses or permits for large outdoor fire features, and might also restrict what type of fuel you use (wood or gas).

You’ll also have to abide by any rules for proper distance from structures, trees and fences, which can be problematic in smaller outdoor spaces.

Budget

Outdoor fireplaces vary wildly in price depending on several factors. While going DIY will cost you less than hiring a contractor, you’ll still need to budget for materials, supplies and equipment. One cost-effective option is to purchase a fireplace kit, including instructions and materials.

You may wish to consider the ongoing cost of fireplace fuel. For example, a wood burning fireplace relies on firewood, which can add up quickly without a wholesale resource. For an outdoor gas fireplace, your usage will be reflected in your monthly utility bill.

Outdoor fireplace materials

You need to construct your fireplace with heat-safe materials, and depending on the design you might need more than one material type. The most common materials include brick, cinder block, concrete or natural stone.

For the inside of the fireplace, you’ll need steel or fire-rated bricks that can withstand the extreme heat. Alternatively, you can use an existing fire pit and construct walls and chimney around it. To build the chimney, you’ll need a fire-rated metal flue pipe.

An impressive outdoor fireplace can help you enjoy your outdoor living space even on chilly evenings. Regardless of whether you go for the traditional style with brick, stacked stone or opt instead for a modern fireplace aesthetic, keeping these important factors in mind will help make your fireplace project a success.

Garden & lawn benches: What to consider before you buy

While many regard lawn benches as a ubiquitous and utilitarian outdoor feature, the right bench can make a stylish statement in your outdoor living space. But how do you choose the best bench for your yard?

Here are some of the key factors to consider when shopping for the perfect garden or lawn bench:

Locations & surfaces

A perfectly placed seat can be a valuable reprieve from the elements. If your outdoor living space gets plenty of sun, consider adding a bench where you can sit down and enjoy the shade. Conversely, if rain frequently hinders your outdoor fun, a bench located under an awning or umbrella makes the perfect place to enjoy the great outdoors while warm and dry.

On a more mechanical level, the surface below the bench is important to consider as well. For example, do you have flagstones, brick or another type of uneven surface? Certain types of benches can be off-center and uncomfortable unless placed on a perfectly flat surface, while others can adjust to an uneven foundation.

Materials & styles

Outdoor benches don’t have to coordinate perfectly with the rest of your outdoor space or backyard decor. However, if you want a bench in a specific architectural style, design and materials matter.

For example, English or French style gardens are the perfect setting for an ornamental cast iron style. A more contemporary yard would call for a sleek, modern style of bench with clean lines and lack of embellishments. The classic wooden bench could work in either context, but whether you add stain or paint color depends on the aesthetic you hope to achieve.

A bench might seem like a simple furnishing, but once you get deeper into the possibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by choices. If you’re interested in finding the perfect bench for your outdoor living space, consider these key factors to guide your decision.

Can an Outdoor Kitchen Make Your Home More Appealing to Buyers?

 Photo by toddpharistx via Pixabay

Today’s home buyers are looking for ways to maximize their space and their enjoyment of that space. While having friends and family over to enjoy a meal out on the patio or a backyard BBQ has long been a favorite way of spending time with loved ones, it’s frequently left the hosts separated from the guests. Adding an outdoor kitchen offers numerous advantages. It could boost interest in your home and set it apart from similar ones in the area. 

1. Makes Entertaining Easy

One of the most exciting things about having your own home is the ability to entertain more. Adding an outdoor kitchen to your home means that the home buyer is instantly set up for a home-warming party or any other type of gathering. 

2. The Hosts Can Participate

As mentioned above, one of the best reasons for installing an outdoor kitchen is that it eliminates the separation of the cook — which is nearly always the host — from the rest of the party outdoors. 

3. It Becomes a Team Effort

With an outdoor kitchen, there are more opportunities to make cooking a group effort. By keeping food prep as part of the overall party, it’s easier for other people to jump in and help out. It’s also great for when the homeowner wants to plan for shared cooking experiences. 

4. It’s Cozy

While the gathering place inside a house used to be the living room, the past few years have seen the kitchen take over that spot. If you think about it, this transition just makes sense. People like to gather where there’s food. It encourages chatting and camaraderie. An outdoor kitchen that includes tables and chairs or other outdoor furniture encourage the same kind of coziness. 

5. Increases Living Space

Adding an outdoor kitchen doesn’t have to be complicated. One idea is to use the covered porch or patio you already have as the foundation for the outdoor kitchen space. Next, add the appropriate appliances. The result is that you’ve instantly increased the living space of your current home without having to add on another room. 

If you’re in an area of the country that is going through a housing boom, you might wonder if you should spring for an outdoor kitchen. Adding this highly-desirable feature to your home could also increase its value and make it easier to get your asking price during its sale. 

Create a Rustic Walkway with Native Stones

Image by Nancy Buron from Pixabay

If you’re like many homeowners who prefer a natural landscape plan, your outdoor living space undoubtedly features lush vegetation and bright, blooming flowers. However, you might also have the sense that something is missing but can’t quite put your finger on what it might be. If this describes you, the missing element is probably hardscaping. Hardscaping refers to elements of landscaping that aren’t plants, such as water features, statuary, gazebos and garden paths.

At its best, hardscaping brings functionality to the table as well as enhances aesthetics. Few things do this better than a rustic stone walkway meandering over the property. Here’s how to make it happen yourself over the course of an average weekend.

Select Your Stones

Stones used for walkways should be flat, wide and thick enough to withstand foot traffic. Choosing stone that is found naturally in your area cuts down on retail and delivery costs. Avoid using polished stones because these present potential slip-and-fall issues due to their slick surfaces. Stones that are between two and three inches thick offer better stability than their thinner counterparts and often come with a more attractive price tag as well.

Lay Out Your Walkway

The first step is to determine your walkway. Avoid straight lines — stone walkaways are meant to meander. Garden hoses are ideal for marking garden paths that curve. Use a sod cutter and a flat spade to cut and remove the grass, and dig out the soil where you want to place the stones to about a depth of five inches and make sure it’s firmly tamped down before placing landscape fabric and adding a two-inch layer of sand over it.

After smoothing down the sand so it provides a flat surface, it’s time to lay down the stones. This part is a little like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, so take your time to figure out the placement. Be sure to use a carpenter’s level to make certain that the stones are at the same height, and add or remove sand as needed. However, if you live in an area that receives significant amounts of precipitation, slightly sloping the larger stones toward the outside of your walkaway helps prevent standing water issues.

Landscape the Walkway

Some people prefer the clean, austere aesthetic of pebble or oyster shell mulch in the gaps between the stones, while others like the rustic, tousled look provided by low-growing herbaceous plants. Corsican mint is an excellent choice because it has a bright green color all year round and releases a divine, minty aroma. Other choices include creeping thyme, rock cress, artemisia and sedum. You can also mix it up with a variety of ground covers for a classic, cottage garden look.