Benefits of Outdoor Fireplaces and Firepits
The nights are getting colder here in the Carolinas, but that doesn’t mean your outdoor living space has to be. If you’ve been looking for a way to liven up your backyard and be able to spend more time in the space year-round, adding a fireplace or fire pit may be the solution you need.
The benefits of an outdoor fire feature are numerous. It adds monetary value to your home, allows for more outdoor cooking and entertaining, provides warmth, and improves the ambiance of your space.
And a fireplace/firepit isn’t just beneficial during the cold months—cookouts and marshmallow roasting are great additions to your summer holiday parties.
Before you get started on designing the perfect fireplace or fire pit, you’ll have to make some decisions. First and foremost, which one should you choose? Fireplaces and fire pits each have their pros and cons, and things to consider before picking one over the other.
SEATING
To really take advantage of the feature, you’ll need a place to sit and enjoy it. This can take the form of patio furniture or benches and can be moveable or built-in. What kind of seating you choose will likely be determined by what kind of structure you’ve built? A firepit offers more available space for seating, since there’s 360-degree access to the flame, while a bench may be all you can fit in front of a fireplace.
PRICE
Generally, fire pits are less expensive than fireplaces, but the cost can range wildly and depend on a number of factors such as the materials used, whether the structure is gas or wood-burning, and the design going into the surrounding area.
SAFETY
Depending on the design, a fireplace may offer more safety than a fire pit. The structure and chimney will block a lot of the wind, controlling most of the smoke, unlike a fire pit where the wind isn’t blocked at all. If there are children around, this will definitely be a consideration.
MATERIALS
You’ll be choosing between brick, stone, marble, and about a million other materials, and that’s just for the structure itself! Choosing which kind of logs to use is another big decision.
GAS OR WOOD-BURNING
Your HOA may make this decision for you, but if not, it will be something to consider. Like we said before, this choice will also present cost and safety concerns.
The team at Pipeline is happy to answer any questions you have about either structure, and we’d love to work with you to design the perfect addition to your outdoor living space.
