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Can I build my own outdoor fireplace?
There are a lot of advantages to building an outdoor fireplace yourself. Primarily, you can spend a lot less money on it than if you had one built for you. You can also be in charge of the design. If you don’t like something, you can change it up so it fits you and your family’s needs.
How tall does an outdoor fireplace chimney need to be?
Outdoor fireplaces can be as small as four feet tall, three feet wide and two feet deep. While larger fireplaces, complete with mantel and hearth, built-in seating and wood storage boxes, can be as large as 15 feet tall, 15 feet wide and 4 feet deep.Outdoor Fireplace Size. Firebox Size (inches) Minimum Chimney Height 48x32x18 16.5′.
Are outdoor chimneys safe?
You should never have your fireplace on a bare wood deck. Moreover, you should never burn plastic, pressure-treated lumber, or trash in your fireplace. An outdoor fireplace provides a great focal point of your patio or backyard. Nevertheless, this feature can be a potential safety hazard.
Does an outdoor fireplace need a chimney?
A wood outdoor fireplace requires a chimney that’s large enough to provide an adequate draft to let the fire burn correctly. A gas fireplace requires proper venting and a gas line. The gas line has to be trenched and piped to a connection point at the house.
Do you need fire brick for an outdoor fireplace?
All fireplaces must be constructed of heat-safe materials, which usually mean brick, block, concrete, or stone for the exterior. The firebox (where the flames actually burn) must be constructed from steel or fire-rated bricks that will withstand extreme heat.
What is the 2 10 rule?
If you are farther than 10′ away from the peak, your chimney needs to be 2′ above the highest point within 10′. For example, your chimney is exiting 20′ away from the peak and you have a 6/12 pitch roof.
How big should chimney flue be?
In general, flue size should be 25 percent larger than the size of the stove pipe, which connects the stove to the chimney. This means a stove with a 6-inch diameter pipe would require at least an 8-inch flue; an 8-inch stove pipe requires a 10-inch flue, etc. Smoke moves up the flue in a swirling pattern.
How deep should a footing be for an outdoor fireplace?
The concrete pad for your project should typically be 4-6 inches thick, 3-4 feet deep, and 4-5 feet wide.
Do I need a damper for outdoor fireplace?
Damper – a valve or plate that regulates smoke and air flow up the chimney. Indoors a damper allows you to close off the chimney when not in use and eliminate draft. Dampers are optional in outdoor fireplaces.
Is an outdoor fireplace worth it?
Chances are it’ll be worth the investment, as outdoor fireplaces tend to be hugely popular elements of outdoor design, providing a natural gathering, entertaining and even cooking space. Whatever you invest, the returns are likely to be hefty in terms of cozy and comfortable quality time spent with friends and family.
Do people use outdoor fireplaces?
Many of us love the warmth and comfort of a fire on a cool winter night — sitting inside, cozy and content while the thermometer outside creeps ever lower. However, outdoor fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular.
How do you vent an outdoor fireplace?
Venting horizontally—through a wall—is a simple solution, ideal in cases where a gas fireplace is being installed on an exterior wall. Venting can be as easy as running pipe from the back of the fireplace out through the wall, then installing a termination cap.
How long does it take to build an outdoor fireplace?
If you already have a backyard patio installed, building a new brick fireplace shouldn’t take long at all. However, building a new patio and fireplace together can take up to four or five months, depending how much work you want done on your backyard landscape.
How much does it cost to build an outdoor fireplace?
An outdoor fireplace will cost anywhere between $1,500 to $20,000. On average, it will run you about $3,000 to have a fireplace built. Pre-made kits and unfinished contractor models usually only run from $1,500 to $9,000. Custom projects typically cost between $8,000 to $20,000 – some even hitting $50,000.
Can you build an outdoor fireplace with cinder blocks?
A cinder block is a type of cement block that contains cinders from incinerated wood. A competent DIY homeowner can build a simple outdoor fireplace from cement blocks and a few extra materials, including fire bricks and a lintel.
How many bricks does it take to build an outdoor fireplace?
1,300 house bricks. 50 fire bricks. 150 concrete blocks. Muriatic acid (washer) and water.
What makes a chimney draw?
When a chimney is filled with hot gas, that gas tends to rise because it is less dense than the air outside the house. The rising hot gas creates a pressure difference called draft which draws combustion air into the appliance and expels the exhaust gas outside.
What causes a chimney not to draw?
The main reasons why your wood stove does not draw can include: The stove or flue is too cold. The flue or chimney is dirty. The room or house is too airtight.
How far should a chimney be from the roof?
The chimney opening above the roof of a sticks and bricks house should be 3 feet above the roof line, or 2 feet above any part of the building within 10′, whichever is higher. For most small structures like small cabins and tiny homes, the tallest part of the structure is within 10′ of the chimney.
Can a chimney be too big?
If it is too big, it may draw too slowly for the appliance, and may never heat up enough to compensate. For this reason, both flue undersizing and flue oversizing should be avoided. If your chimney is too big, install a masonry or stainless steel flue liner that has the same CSA as the vent opening on the appliance.
