As the old song goes: “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” Even if it’s not snowing, Jack Frost certainly is nipping at our noses this time of year. The fall in temperature makes us less inclined to spend our time outside, but that doesn’t mean we don’t miss the Great Outdoors.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to be outside but stay warm? Oh, wait a second… there totally is.
An outdoor fireplace is the perfect addition to your backyard to make it physically warmer, but it also gives your home a warmer, more inviting atmosphere that will make your guests feel both welcome and cozy.
Here are three tips for choosing an outdoor fireplace for your backyard:
1. How much can you afford to spend on an outdoor fireplace?
We know the truth hurts but just take a second and be honest with yourself: What can you actually afford?
Before you draft in your mind the perfect fireplace for you home, you should make sure, first, that it’s the perfect fireplace for your budget, too. Review your savings and see if you have enough to spend on the outdoor fireplace of your dreams. If not, then consider how much you would need to save (and over what period of time you would need to save it) in order to purchase the perfect outdoor fireplace.
2. Do you want your outdoor fireplace to be wood-burning, gas or electric?
A gas-powered fireplace is going to make your utility bill go up a little bit, so you’ll have to be honest with yourself about more than just how much you can afford initially. You’ll need to factor this change into your monthly expenses as well.
The upside to getting a gas fireplace is that you’ll have an instant fire. Say it’s cold outside, and your guests are politely waiting for you to get the fire going. “No, don’t worry about us. We’re fine,” they say, but you can’t understand them through their chattering teeth. You won’t have to make your guests wait for warmth with a gas outdoor fireplace.
On the other hand, there’s nothing quite like the cozy appeal of a wood-burning fireplace. There is, naturally, the added continual expense of purchasing wood for your outdoor fireplace. However, you could always chop your own wood. In this case, you’re trading an expense in money for an expense in time. It’s up to your which factor is more important.
An electric outdoor fireplace works similarly to a gas-powered fireplace in that you’ll have an instant fire. However, it’s also another monthly expense, one that is usually a little more expensive than gas.
If you’re choosing between gas and electric, go with whatever power source your stove runs on. If you have a gas stove, get a gas outdoor fireplace. The logic here is that if you’re already having to pay a gas bill, a slightly higher bill may not be that big of a deal. However, if you have an electric stove, then odds are you don’t have any other gas-powered appliances in your home. Getting a gas fireplace will mean that you’ll have to pay another utility bill to a new company, which makes paying your bills each month even more of a hassle.
3. What style do you want your outdoor fireplace to be?
If you’re thinking of getting an outdoor fireplace, chances are that you’ve already got a pretty established backyard setup. In other words, your patio furniture probably has a calculated color scheme or even an elaborate theme. It would be a real shame to get an outdoor fireplace just to have it interrupt the creative flow of your exterior design.
Usually, when people think “fireplace,” they think brick or stone, western industrial-styled stuff. But there’s actually a variety of styles for you choose from. There are many more modern styles that incorporate cleaner designs, less color, straighter lines and more asymmetry than traditional fireplaces. Consider the style of your patio set (or the patio set that you plan on purchasing) to determine which outdoor fireplace style is right for you.
Next Steps
We have a number of outdoor fireplaces for you to choose from; look for one that can meet all your needs: The Heatilator Outdoor Fireplace, the Heat-N-Go Outdoor Fireplace, the Napolean Outdoor Fireplace and the Regency Outdoor Fireplace. Using the answers to the questions we posed above, choose which of these outdoor fireplaces best suits your needs and give us a call today.