Warm Up to Outdoor Living: Fireplaces and Heaters Can Make the Great Outdoors Even Greater

When the cold winds blow and fall gives way to winter, those backyard barbecues will have to wait until next year—or will they?

As outdoor living spaces evolve and new products and services become available, extending your time outdoors is more feasible than ever before, even in the winter months. Gather the family around a fire pit to roast marshmallows (and even sing some of those summer camp songs)! Or relax in front of a fireplace as you watch your steaks grill to perfection. Consider investing in a patio heater to give your holiday party guests a chance to get some fresh air outdoors. If you think you might be getting yourself to specialized an appliance don’t worry, as there are heating system repair experts with the experience and know-how to service these as well.

If you’re not ready to give up on your patio time quite yet, here’s a guide to warming your outdoor areas.

Outdoor Fireplaces
Robert Powers of P&W Architectural Stone in Madison Heights said outdoor fireplaces are becoming more popular in Central Virginia.

“Many simply like the way they look. Many talk about using them as a centerpiece for family gatherings or for entertaining friends,” Powers said. “I think we all return to our primitive, outdoor, pioneer heritage that draws us to gather around a fire for warmth, to cook and as a place to meet and discuss the happenings of the day.”

There’s a certain calming effect when we hear the wood crackling and see the blue and orange glow.

“The ambiance of a fireplace is very compelling and affords the owner a wonderful centerpiece for their outdoor living space,” he said.

Plus, it is practical. If you prefer wood-burning versus gas, using an outdoor fireplace is obviously less messy but “it also keeps the inevitable smoke smell outdoors and not in the house which for many adds to the joy of burning wood,” he said.

Brent Gleason of Boxley, a supplier of brick and stone products with offices in Lynchburg and Roanoke, said more people are putting money into hardscapes to enhance their home.

“We’re seeing in the building industry as a whole that people are building smaller homes, but nice homes, and using a lot of outdoor living areas.”

He said outdoor fireplaces are becoming an especially popular investment. “Some people use them all the time,” he said. “I think everybody that buys them puts them to use.”

Boxley offers more than 180 varieties of quality brick, lightweight cast stone veneers and natural stone products
that can be picked up or delivered. Although Boxley works closely with architects, engineers and contractors for residential and commercial projects, they also assist DIY’ers with getting the best materials available for their home projects. They will help homeowners choose the product and give them printed how-to guides or help connect them directly with an area installer.

Many hardscape suppliers will also help coordinate your pre-existing features with a fireplace or fire pit. Scott’s Mulch & More in Forest has a photo slideshow on their website that shows fireplaces and fire pits that complement retaining walls, patios and pools.

For the eager homeowner ready to get started, there are even fireplace pre-fab kits. Both P&W and Boxley carry the FireRock systems, with some requiring only one day for installation. They come with pre-cut pieces, with the customer choosing the veneer (man-made or natural) from a variety of colors and styles.

“They can be as simple or as fancy as you want them to be,” Gleason said.

The fireplace opening (the firebox) can be arched or straight and is available in different widths, such as 30-, 36- or 42-inch. The buyer can extend the chimney height, if he prefers. There’s also the option of raising the hearth by putting it on a block base and then natural or manmade veneer can be installed for a gorgeous addition.

FireRock kits are also more affordable than conventional masonry installation. FireRock also offers kits for fire pits and fire rings, and even an outdoor wood-burning pizza oven.

P&W and Boxley have demo units on display for the public. You can also go to www.firerock.us to check out their products.

Fire Pits
If you want a less permanent fixture, fire pits—or fire bowls or fire rings—may be an option for you. Fairly inexpensive, fire pits are catching on across the country, available in major retail stores. They come in limitless designs and shapes, from the typical round ones to a box (tabletop) or even pentagon, with decorative stone and tile. Some even have cutout characters or words so the fire’s glow can take on a personality of its own. The patio looks best with Prism Hardscapes fire pits. Many come with unique stands and are easily portable, either lightweight or on wheels, so you can entertain at home or take the fun with you.

Because you can move around it, if you’re looking for warmth, the fire pit is your best bet. Plus, more people can enjoy it.

“The fire-pit’s design certainly gives more access to more people, especially to the kids who may want to cook a hot-dog or roast a marshmallow,” Powers said.

Chimineas
If you want to add style to your outdoor space, a chiminea, the old Mexican-style freestanding outdoor fireplace, is a great idea.

“After the traditional campfire, chimineas are probably the oldest kind of outdoor fire ‘appliance,’” according to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA). Dating back 400 years, the chiminea was once used regularly for cooking indoors, but now is often used outdoors to entertain on a deck or patio. Chimineas are the perfect conversation piece for your outdoor enjoyment.

Historically made of clay and raised on a stand, the small arched opening and slender chimney are available in many artistic designs incorporating decorative tile and stone. With more people using them outdoors, manufacturers have now turned to copper, cast iron and aluminum, because the typical clay varieties are unable to withstand the elements. These modern styles often have a screen to prevent the escape of stray sparks.

In the summertime, when heat isn’t the main goal, many people place a plant inside their chiminea or even candles to create a romantic setting.

Patio Heaters
If you want pure heat, and the ambience of a fireplace is not necessary, patio heaters can do the job. Often the height of a lamp post, these appliances can “run on liquid propane or natural gas, produce 35,000 to 45,000 BTU’s and radiate heat 20 to 25 feet in all directions (farther than a firepit),” according to the HPBA. They come in stainless steel, cast aluminum, or painted steel and have domes on top; the larger the dome, the wider distribution of heat.

The more basic models are portable, but you can also have them installed in the ground (and hooked up to a natural gas line) or choose a ceiling-mount model. Smaller “table-top” units are also available, producing up to 10,000 BTUs.

Foster Fuels, with locations in Brookneal and Rustburg, is a wholesale fuel provider serving the state of Virginia since 1921. Their Hearth & Home Store features propane appliances, including fire pit burners. Their specialty is their “turnkey service,” where customers can purchase an appliance and the company will set the appropriate size propane storage tank, and deliver propane as needed.

Patio heaters are an affordable option, ranging from about $300 to $700. A less expensive option is a simple spot heater. While patio heaters can disburse heat in a circle, spot heaters focus on one direction. If you have a more intimate setting, perhaps for one or two people, these electric models can do the job.

Location, Location

• Choose an area that is a safe distance from your house and outbuildings, as well as playsets.
• Make sure the area is clear of trees and cascading branches or vines, as well as roof overhangs. If you are still designing and building this area, make sure to take this into consideration when it comes to deciding on your roofing installation. You may consult a residential roofing contractor for suggestions.
• Keep fire bowls or rings on top of brick, concrete or block to keep from scorching decks or grass.
• Choose a level spot.
• Check for underground wires, cable or pipes. Protect and insulate those wires with heat shrink sleeves.
• Since this will be a place to entertain and relax, make sure you allow for at least a three-foot distance between your seating area and the fire.

SUPPLIERS

Boxley, 846-2766, boxley.com

Foster Fuels, 376-2322 (Brookneal), 821-2461 (Rustburg), fosterfuels.com

P&W Architectural Stone, 929-2633, pandwstone.com

Scott’s Mulch & More, 237-5844, scottsmulch.com

Leesville Landscape Supply, 434-832-0042, leesvillelandscapesupply.com