Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Property Projects & Construction How hard is it to build an outdoor fireplace?

How hard is it to build an outdoor fireplace? I have a firepit but a fireplace would be much nicer. I have never tackled a masonry project but consider myself a decent DIYer.

I think it depends on what you want. I helped a buddy build an outdoor fireplace with a pergola attached. we just made the fire place out of cinder blocks, then coated it with the stone that was left over from the building of their house.

it looks great.


drp

An outdoor fireplace is a great idea and a wonderful place to spend your evening with family and friends, however you must make sure that it is properly constructed.

A firepit is different than a fireplace in that the heat in a firepit is able to dissipate in many directions because it is not enclosed, where a fireplace the heat is enclosed in the structure and dissipates upward and through the front opening. Keeping these differences in mind it is imperative that you construct the inside of your fireplace with a fire rated brick. Otherwise the heat will cause the bricks or “cinder blocks” to dry out and some may actually explode, although rare it may occur. Try looking up “How do I build an outdoor Fireplace” in your search engine, and Happy Building!

From good stone suppliers, you can purchase a "kit" of all of the materials needed. It is a great, simple way to go. Kind of expensive for me though, and not useful as the pond is too far from the house.

Rob -- this is kind of like a pond. What are your goals and aspirations for this fireplace?

I'm not sure where you are, but you can't be too far away if you are in southern PA. If you've got a pond with some fish we can cull, we've got all the cooking equipment for a big fish fry.

Better than that, a bunch of us know how to lay concrete, rock, and brick! If you don't have rock, we've got plenty, and we'll just bring it with us. Otherwise, just order in some concrete, bricks, and some fire bricks.

We're doing 60 gallons of apple butter next weekend, 30 gallons of Brunswick stew the weekend after that, then we are going to the Pond Boss V conference. We'll be free to help after that.

Get a deer, a few squirrels, and some fish -- and we'll roast and smoke everything in the new fireplace we build for you. By then, it should have frosted a few times, and I can bring about a gallon of home made horse radish sauce to keep us warm.

Regards,
Ken

Ken, you are too kind! I'll take something like this.....

Yup, there are kits for those. Up here we have:
http://www.sensenigs.com/
Which is a dangerous place to go if you need to be saving your $$$. Mulch piles over 60' tall... amazing stone selection. Garden pond supplies of all types. Just no plants or fish.