Blazing the trail: 10 insider tips for customizing outdoor fireplaces

Pool & Spa News, August 20, 2004 by Rebecca Robledo

There's nothing quite like an outdoor fireplace. Many homeowners will use any excuse to hang out around its inviting, homey hearth and roaring fire.

The exterior fire place is compelling on another level, too. A hand-built masonry unit with full-size health represents an architectural achievement, a work of art. The custom-built fireplace holds a singular place in its owner's heart.

For pool and spa professionals, the hand-crafted outdoor fireplace is special as well. At a cost of approximately $6,000, it can help heat up a company's profit margins. To make the installation as comfortable and aesthetically appealing as possible, consider the following 10 tips:

1 Placement.

Does the client want the fireplace to function as a major focal point, a stunning backdrop to the pool or a sudden surprise? Home owners often want their fireplaces next to the backyard barbecue to create a central living area.

"We'll put the fireplace next to the bar counter with a table-and-chair setup," says Randy Bauer, president of Symphony Pools in Simi Valley, Calif. Visitors can stay warm while they toast the chef and tip the bartender.

Other clients prefer using the fireplace to create a separate, private nook away from the house. For instance, placing it by the spa provides an intimate getaway. It also expands the spa area while maintaining a welcoming ambiance.

"People sitting on the deck can enjoy the fireplace, and chat back and forth with people sitting in the spa," Bauer says.

To extend the feeling of a home's interior, position the fireplace just outside the house underneath a patio cover. This keeps people near the house and provides a warm observation point on rainy days.

"There could be a gorgeous rainstorm, and you could be curled up by the fireplace," says Deborah Malone, president of J.P. Malone Construction Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz.

2 Keep sightlines in mind.

Fireplace location can enhance or hinder the flow of your space. For instance, if the site showcases an exceptional view, do not obstruct it with the fireplace.

"I have been in million-dollar homes [where] you walk in, look out a beautiful picture window and at the end of the patio, they've got a fireplace right in the middle of the view line," Malone says.

On the other hand, a fireplace can be used to block an undesirable line of sight. This can work if the patio offers a bird's-eye view of the deteriorating roof next door, or if the neighbors can look down into the clients' backyard.

You may also use a fireplace to divide larger backyards into multiple "rooms." A two-sided, or double fireplace, can be perfect, making it possible to see the flame from either side. Malone usually places a window on the outside portion to keep insects and small animals out of the house. The outdoor portion functions solely as a visual effect because the window will trap much of the heat and the aroma of wood-burning units.

3 Design for proper drafting.

If burn-off from the fireplace doesn't travel in the right direction, a smoke-filled patio may result. To keep this from happening, you'll need a tall chimney and wide flue.

The optimal flue size corresponds directly to the dimensions of the firebox. To allow smoke to flow through properly, the flue must be 10 to 20 percent of the size of the firebox, says Steve Mulcahy, sales representative for Firemaster Inc. in Evansville, Ind.

Outdoor fireplaces usually have shorter chimneys than indoor units because they don't need to penetrate the home roof. However, extra height ensures that smoke rises above the house and can't seep in through doors or windows. This also helps keep the fireplace from back drafting because the taller the chimney, the stronger the draft.

Codes may dictate chimney height if the unit is close to the home. Some areas make these mandates for chimneys within 10 feet of the home, others if it is within 15 feet. Many of these codes state that the builder must find the highest point of the roof within 10 feet of the chimney, then make the chimney 2 feet higher.

Even a nearby thicket of trees can hinder drafting. When this happens, a taller chimney may be needed. "If it's in a wooded area on the leeward side of a tall stand of trees, you're going to get the wind to blow across the top of the trees and the downdraft will come in on it--even if you're up to code," says Randy Tumber, president of Tumber & Associates in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada.

To avoid this issue altogether, some builders position outdoor fireplaces far away from the house.

4 Don't shortchange the firebox.

A firebox, which is the opening through which the flames are viewed, distinguishes a handmade fireplace from a premanufactured one. Some industry experts prefer a firebox that's 3 to 4 feet wide and 32 to 36 inches tall. "Everybody likes to congregate around a big fireplace," says Jeff Thiessen, president of Thiessen's Custom Masonry in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

Viewers can also appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into installing the firebrick. This gives masons a chance to install the brick in special patterns, such as a herringbone, to perk up the feature's appearance.