1. Call you local fire department, city hall or county office regarding safety guidelines and local ordinances. You don't want to buy an outside fireplace, chiminea or fire pit without doing this first! This is especially true if you live in a condo or apartment and if you are on an upper level. Not only should you check with local city ordinances, you should also contact your association or apartment manager before buying anything!
2. Pick a budget and stick to it especially in these tough times. A custom outside fireplace and fire pit can cost upwards of $10,000! Even if you are one of those "do-it-your-selfers" by the time you plan, buy materials then build a custom outside fireplace it could take weeks. There are several suppliers and manufacturers such as Asia Direct, Uniflame, Blue Rooster and California Concepts that offer an outside fireplace, chiminea or fire pit for every budget and style.
3. Choose a style. What is the difference between an outside fireplace, chiminea, fire pit bowl and a fire pit? To best explain it, here are some photos:
The above images just a very select few examples of an outside fireplace, chiminea and a fire pit bowl. When you beginning shopping, don't get hung too much on the terminology because it will all depend on where you're shopping. These pictures hopefully give you a general idea.
4. Choose a material. Fire pits, outside fireplaces and chimineas come in all sorts of materials such as copper, stainless steel and aluminum. Furthermore, fire pit bowls and outside fireplaces can come trimmed with mosaic tile, granite and marble. Copper fire pit bowls and outside fireplaces will "patina" over time. This means as the years go by they will look like a old penny or the Statue of Liberty. Here are some examples of the items mentioned above:
All materials have their upside and downside. So before picking a material you must decide on the style you are trying to achieve and how long do you want your investment to last.
Hopefully these 4 tips have provided you with some valuable information to help you choose your outside fireplace, chiminea, fire pit bowl or fire pit. Remember consult with you local fire department or association before making any purchase. Next stick to your budget, pick a style and then pick the right material for you. Make it fun because the whole point in buying an outside fireplace, or fire pit is for entertainment and relaxing outside of work. So don't make it work when choosing a fire pit.











