What You Need to Know About Building an Outdoor Fireplace
Building an outdoor fireplace takes a fair amount of planning and is sometimes expensive. Decide how your fireplace will fit into your outdoor living scheme, and build it to fit within those parameters. Also, always keep fire safety at the forefront of your plans. Does this Spark an idea?
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Legal Considerations
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Fire safety and air quality laws and ordinances control the type of fireplace you may construct in your backyard. These regulations may also determine the frequency with which you can use your fireplace. Review your local rules and decide whether the restrictions they place on your use will justify the cost of constructing an outdoor fireplace.
The Right Mortar
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Use only hydraulic-setting refractory mortar for your outdoor brick fireplace. Cured hydraulic-setting refractory mortar is water-insoluble, so it won't dissolve when it gets rained on. The alternative mortar, air-drying refractory mortar, does dissolve in the rain. Work with hydraulic-setting refractory mortar in the same manner as you would Portland-based mortars.
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Benefits
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An outdoor fireplace creates a destination in your backyard; your guests won't just pass through the yard, they'll stop, sit and enjoy your company by the fireplace. A fireplace also provides warmth on cool evenings. For greater versatility, adapt your fireplace to add a cooking element.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit fireplace image by martini from Fotolia.com
