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I’ve been thinking about doing something similar on a patio I just installed. I looked at Chimneas too but $300+ seems like a lot for a clay pot that may not last. I was thinking about using a standard indoor fireplace liner, framed in, with a stucco or brick exterior. Not sure about reliability of installing this system outdoors though and haven’t been able to determine the required chimney height.
Kimball not sure if this helps with what you’re trying to do. Any thoughts from anybody?
There are important considerations to keep in mind when building a slab-on-grade home with continuous insulation.
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I am getting ready to build an outdoor fireplace on my patio. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with one of these and may have any warnings or suggestions. I live in Maryland; we have average winters with short term freezes. I'm a little wary of the fire brick freezing and cracking. I have been able to find very little in books relating to this. Any comments would be appreciated.
Thanks, kimball
*Kimball,If it's not a raging bon-fire or a fire to cook on that you want, a portable fireplace (they're called "chimineas" here) would work fine. I bought one recently, and love it. It's great to live in a town, but still be able to enjoy an outdoor fire.Beatrix
*Beatrix, Thanks, but I have already looked at Chimneys. That is what started this whole process. We have a 40 year old house that had a Ward Cleaver BB in the back, but it was cracked and falling down. We had a few fires in it while grilling on cold nights and it was great. I added a large shed that was too close to the chimney of the BB(wife had already said it must go!) We tore it down in pep for new patio and are pretty set on new fireplace. It will be a big patio(750 q. Ft.) and plan on a big fireplace for chilly fall/spring evenings when we're out there anyhow. Sorry, too damn dumb to post sketches or pictures of existing conditions, but we have just put in block retaining wall that sticks up 24" on one side. The plan is to make a bench out of this with a 5-6' wide fireplace in the center. I've got a good idea of what we want, but was hoping to hear from someone who had done this with any advice, one way or the other. Opinions also solicited!! Thanks, Kimball
*Kimball,Lucky you! A small fireplace is all that our bylaw will allow, so a chiminea is perfect here.Good luck,Beatix
*I've been thinking about doing something similar on a patio I just installed. I looked at Chimneas too but $300+ seems like a lot for a clay pot that may not last. I was thinking about using a standard indoor fireplace liner, framed in, with a stucco or brick exterior. Not sure about reliability of installing this system outdoors though and haven't been able to determine the required chimney height.Kimball not sure if this helps with what you're trying to do. Any thoughts from anybody?
*just talked with several fireplace stores. 3 out of 5 suggested a stainless steel insert. $1000.00 big ones. I'm looking to use a fireplace on a screened porch. suggestions anyone?
*Up here in some parts of Ontario those chimeneas are apparently illegal. You are only allowed to have an outdoor fire for the purpose of cooking. Guess maybe you should keep a marshmallow on a stick close-by. Anyway, some places have quit selling them because of this. So, put a cooking grill on your fireplace.
*Check with Heatilator, they have a 42" outdoor model. Try this link:http://www.heatilator.com/product/outdoors.htmldavid
*Build your fireplace across the patio facing the house. If you build it against the house, as many are, you will sit facing a nice warm fire, freezing your butt off. If you build it facing the house you will have a warm fire in front of you and a warm house behind you. If you have any kind of a patio cover the fireplace should warm this space well on many nights making it far more usable.Clay chimineas are about $80 in SoCal, but they have many limitations (e.g. keeping them out of the rain, small fires only) I have a cast iron one that I paid about $120 for.
*After having a chiminea for a year and thoroughly enjoying it, I just found out that they are illegal to use here- southern Ontario. I was talking to the fire department about a farmer who was burning plastic and found out that-as mentioned- small fires are only allowed for cooking. But he did say, that as long as no one complained about the chiminea, the fire department would turn a blind eye to it.