Outdoor Masonry Fireplace Designs... Real Long-Term Value!
Outdoor masonry fireplace designs, like their indoor counterparts, encompass a wide and diverse range of styles and finishing materials . . . . .
. . . to give the homeowner a veritable smorgasboard of design possibilities. Solid and substantial, they
are built to last a very long time and offer real long-term value!
Utilizing a combination of concrete, brick and firebrick to construct the foundation and firebox, along
with a clay-lined chim- ney flue, a
masonry fireplace
is extreme- ly durable. As with indoor designs, the outside of the fireplace and chimney can be finished with
any material or combina- tion of materials the homeowner desires, such as the enchanting river rock design pictured at right.
The two striking outdoor masonry fire- place designs pictured below, with tall fireboxes containing slanted
sidewalls are
Rumford fireplaces
. . . . . one of a handful of masonry firebox designs that are built entirely on site. Each example is
beautifully finished with cut stone.
In addition to Rumford and other site-built designs, a relatively new techno- logy has been developed that makes it possible to construct a masonry fire- place and chimney with precast facto- ry built modular units made of pumice -- or volcanic rock. The firebox is lined with standard firebrick, as pictured in the example at right.
The precast modular units offer the look of a traditional site-built masonry fireplace, but with less weight and ex- pense. As with the entirely site-built masonry fireplace, the outside of the fireplace and chimney can be finished with your choice of materials for a com- pletely custom tailored look.
The images below provide a study in contrasts. The
fieldstone
fireplace on the left, with its naturally ir- regular stone shapes and sizes, looks right at home in a woodsy
outdoor setting. On the other hand, the carefully laid cut stones with brick accents on the fireplace at right
are ideal in a more formal set- ting of manicured lawns.
Another popular material choice for outdoor hearths is brick, as pictured be- low. The herringbone pattern
in the center of the chimney at left, as well as the neo-classic detailing and combined use of finishing
materials in the bot- tom example, add interest and individuality to these striking designs.
Concrete is also becoming increasingly popular as a finishing material for
out- door fireplaces,
as shown in the exam- ple at right.
The three designs that follow impart the flavor of the American southwest, albeit with individual material
choices, includ- ing stone, concrete and stucco. The elaborate stepped design of the
Kiva fireplace
(bottom) lends visual interest and distinction to this traditionally in- spired hearth.
Going beyond the Spanish influence found in American southwestern design, if a Spanish Revival style
or other
Spanish-inspired fireplace
design is what you have in mind, the following examples may be a good fit. Though most are finished primarily
with stucco, the addition of another material such as stone and the strategic placement of colorful tiles in
some of the examples add vis- ual delight and elements of personal style to these fine outdoor masonry fireplace
designs.
Regardless of the style or material type(s) you choose, your outdoor masonry fireplace will add real long-term value to your home. More importantly, it will provide an ideal setting for a lifetime of cherished
memories with family and friends!
For more information about any of the outdoor masonry fireplace de- signs pictured here, please
let us know
and we'll be happy to provide it for you.
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as we continually add new images of outdoor masonry fireplaces to our site.
