How to Construct an Outdoor Stone Fireplace

An outdoor stone fireplace looks magical at night.

Cooking over an outdoor fire is probably the oldest cooking method known to man, but it has not lost its charms even after many thousands of years. The social aspect of an outdoor fireplace is one of its greatest attractions, as well as the smoky flavor imparted into any food cooked on the fire. A backyard stone fireplace at its simplest is a stacked-stone enclosure over which a grill plate can be placed for cooking.

Things You'll Need

• Grill plate or rack
• Chalk
• Shovel
• Level
• Flat stone blocks

Instructions

1. Lay the grill plate or rack you intent to use on the stone fireplace on the ground in position where you want the fireplace to go. A circular, square or rectangular grill plate can be used.

2. Make a chalk line around the grill plate or rack and then remove the grill plate. Use a shovel and level to even out the ground within the chalk line.

3. Lay a course of stone blocks on the inside of the grill plate line, so that the grill plate will be able to sit atop the stones.

4. Continue laying stones one on top of the other around the walls, staggering the joints of the stones until the fireplace is around 1 to 1 1/2 feet high.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a flagstone surround to the fireplace if desired.

• Don’t use porous stones for building the fireplace as they can expand or even explode with intense heat. Hard, course rock like granite is best.

• Check with your local authorities to ensure open outdoor fireplaces are permitted in your area.

• Construct the fireplace well away from buildings and foliage.

• Never leave children or pets unattended when the fireplace is lit.

• Always manually extinguish an outdoor fireplace when leaving an area.

References

• Family Handyman: How To Build A Stone Fire Ring
• Fire Pit Helper: How To Build A Fire Pit