Oh, the weather is frightful – but that doesn’t mean your backyard can’t be a delightful place! Getting cozy around a beautiful DIY outdoor fireplace is the perfect way to spend quality time with family and friends during the fall and winter. Grab some S’mores and a few beers, and you’ll have a real party. The key is having a properly constructed backyard fireplace so you can sit back and enjoy instead of worrying about an ensuing inferno.
Building Supplies for an Outdoor Fireplace. Spending time outside in cooler weather can lead to some of the best memories with family and friends. You can make these memories around a gorgeous DIY outdoor fireplace.
Materials Needed for an Outdoor Fireplace
You can use several materials for building an outdoor fireplace, including bricks, concrete blocks, and pavers. However, the best product to build it with is fire brick. You can go as simple as a round firepit made with fire bricks, or you can go the full monty with:
- Concrete pad
- Fire bricks
- Cement board
- Veneer stone
- Refractory mortar
DIY Outdoor Fireplace Foundation
The concrete slab foundation is one of the most important parts of a brick fireplace. If you are making a large fireplace instead of a fire pit, you’ll need something sturdy to keep the bricks from settling and destroying all the hard work you put into your fireplace. While some might recommend a compacted gravel foundation, it is harder to clean than concrete. Additionally, Hampton Roads codes might determine the type and thickness of the foundation.
Step-by-Step Guide to a DIY Outdoor Fireplace
Follow these steps for your DIY outdoor fireplace project.
Check Hampton Roads Codes
The Hampton Roads area in Virginia has restrictions and guidelines for outdoor fires. Be sure to review them before planning your outdoor fireplace. For example, you need a permit for an outdoor fire in Virginia Beach. Virginia also has codes regarding building outdoor fireplaces.
Locate and Prepare the Ground
Choose a safe spot for your fireplace. It shouldn’t be too close to the house or the woods. Check local codes for other restrictions. Clear and level the area. Tamp the soil down. Spread at least two inches of gravel, then flatten it again.
Pour Concrete Foundation
Build the form for the concrete foundation. Two-by-four lumber is sturdy enough to hold the concrete and allows you to make a 4-inch deep foundation. Make sure the form is outside of the gravel. Pour the concrete and allow it to set.
Build the Firebox
Start building with your brick, stone, or concrete blocks. Mortar the base layer into place. Make sure the base layer is level. Continue adding layers of bricks and mortar. Line the inside with fire brick. Place a lintel block at the top of the opening.
Build the Smoke Chamber
When building the smoke chamber, inset each row of blocks about two inches on the sides. The front is even but about 4 inches back from the front of the firebox.
Finish the Chimney
Continue stacking to create the chimney on top of the smoke chamber. The blocks for the chimney should be even on all sides. Once you have the chimney as high as you want it, add a chimney cap.
Veneer Stones
Give your fireplace an aesthetic look with veneer stones. Wrap chicken wire around the fireplace. Add mortar to the back of the veneer stone and apply it to the fireplace. Be sure to use spacers between the stones so they are even. Fill between them with mortar. You can find rocks and veneer stones at Batchelder & Collins.
Outdoor Firepit Design Ideas
You can create a whole outdoor living space around an outdoor firepit or fireplace. Some ideas include:
Incorporate with an Outdoor Patio
Build a stone patio or incorporate the fireplace with an existing patio to upgrade your outdoor living space. You can build a full fireplace with a chimney or firepit or install a gas fireplace. Your current outdoor living configuration will determine what is best for your yard.
Add Greenery
Elevate your outdoor living area with plants – but keep them far away from gas and wood fireplaces. Plants can form borders to a patio area, and trees can provide shade for hot days.
Pizza Oven
Convert your outdoor fireplace into a pizza oven with cooking accessories you can find online. It’s perfect for pizza parties or a romantic evening with your significant other. You can also build a separate wood-fired pizza oven by creating a baking chamber over the fireplace and using pizza stones for the base.
Pizza ovens can be completely separate, or you can incorporate one on the side of a regular fireplace, depending on how big you want your fireplace.
Why Our Customers Choose Batchelder & Collins
When you need personalized guidance and knowledge for your hardscape needs, you can count on Batchelder & Collins.
Testimonials
“Always good customer service. Reasonable prices and loading of purchase items is fast and easy.” – Vincent Martinez.
“What an amazing place. I brought in a brick that was from my 10yr old house. They didn’t stock the brick anymore, but they matched it pretty well. They have 2 yards full of brick and stone. They have this beautiful fire pit display outside. Wish I could take that home with me.” – Jacqueline K.
Additional Resources
Brick Shapes and Sizes Guide: Common clay bricks come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. Use them to create a one-of-a-kind outdoor fireplace.
How Do You Repair Loose Bricks?: Bricks often come loose over time, thanks to the weather. Learn how to repair loose bricks in your brick fireplace.
How Hardscapes Add Value to Your Home: Stone fireplaces and other hardscapes can add value to your home should you decide to sell it.
Start Building Your Fire Pit with High-Quality Supplies
When you create and build a fireplace design, you want it to last many years. Even when you follow step-by-step instructions, if you use poor-quality materials, it won’t last. For top-quality materials to build a fireplace that will last many years, contact Batchelder & Collins at our Norfolk location at 757-625-2506, our Williamsburg location at (757) 220-2806, or our online contact form.
