Outdoor Fireplace Designs... Expand Your Living Area!
Outdoor fireplace designs are enjoying an unprecedented surge in pop- ularity today. As a result, an amazing array
of products has been in- troduced in the past few years to meet the needs of a rapidly growing number of homeowners
interested in expanding their living area by sim- ply creating an "outdoor room." Fashioned from a vast range of
materi- als in nearly every conceivable size, shape and style, today's designs appeal to a wide variety
of tastes and budgets!
With the introduction of convenient and environmentally friendly
biomass fuels
that often require no need for venting, some are even portable and can be moved around at will. For example, the
unique designs pictured above and below, left, are not affixed to a gas line and can easily be re- located when
necessary.
Now it's possible to expand and enhance your overall living area by simply extending
your interior living space to the out-of-doors . . . . without the mess and
costs normally associated with "room addition" home remodeling projects.
Create dramatic al fresco living space for entertaining family and friends
right at home. Save money and redefine the term, "dining out," in today's tight economy
while, at the same time, adding value to your home.
An
outdoor fireplace
will anchor your
outdoor living area
and provide a focal
point that beckons everyone to gather around. Just imagine the wonderful
memories that will be created as you and your family enjoy the warm and cozy outdoor
hearth for many years to come.
When planning your outdoor fireplace design, be sure that it is in scale with
your home and yard. Try to match the style with that of your home and, whenever
possible, incorporate architectural details and materials used in the design of
your home. Pay particular attention to the chimney or chim- neys rising from your
home when planning your fireplace design, as this will help to tie it all together.
The end result? A pleasing, well-balanced com- position that "fits right in" . . . naturally.
For the purist, an all
masonry fireplace
can be built. However, be prepared to spend
consid- erably more for footings, possible engineering and soil testing services, and
skilled masons.
On the other hand, there are several very good
prefabricated units
available today. Made from galvanized steel or a durable light weight concrete product
consisting of vol- canic ash and cinders, they come with un- finished exteriors so that you
can face them with any of one or more materials to match the exterior of your home.
Whether a masonry or a prefabricated unit, you can face it with brick . . . . .
or even a Pueblo Revival adobe facing may be just what you need.
For just about any look, whatsoever -- traditional to contemporary -- a concrete surround may
provide the ideal solution. Concrete is extremely versatile and can be molded into virtually
any shape or form. It can also be finished in a wide variety of colors and textures, as the
following examples clearly show.
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