Outdoor Stone Fireplace Options... A Rocky Mt. High!
Today's outdoor stone fireplace options exceed anything that was possible a decade ago . . . . .
Given the array of material choices, as well as the mountain of
variations within each material type, the sky is truly the limit. With some
imagination and in- genuity . . . . . you can create an outside fire space so
breathtaking it will leave your friends and neigh- bors breathless!
The vast range of stone types, textures and colors available today -- whether
natural, manufactured or cast -- makes it possible to achieve the look you want
on virtually any budget.
Natural stone,
the most durable material, is certainly impressive, as the following examples show.
From fieldstone to river stone, limestone to ledgestone, you can't go wrong with a
well executed design!
Though the most durable, natural stone is also the heaviest material and will
likely require a foundation and footings. That, in conjunction with the higher
cost of the stone, itself, as well as the skilled labor needed to build it, makes
it the costliest outdoor stone fireplace option.
However, due to advances in technology and processing techniques, it is now
possible to closely replicate the look and feel of natural stone with a
manufactured
or
cast stone
product. For a mildly textured to rugged and rustic look,
cultured stone
comes very close to the look and feel of natural stone, as the following examples show.
If you're going for a more refined or old world look and feel, you will find
sev- eral choices in cast stone mantels and surrounds. The smooth textures and finishes of
these products are offered in a variety of mostly traditional styles, as shown below.
Another, albeit more recent, outdoor stone fireplace material gaining in popu- larity
is
natural thin stone veneer,
which is cut from natural stone quarried from the earth. Unlike traditional full-dimension
stone which is typically three to five inches in depth, thin veneer is only 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches
and much lighter in weight. Consequently, it doesn't require any load-bearing founda- tions or
footings.
For ease of installation, some manufacturers now offer thin stone veneer in preassembled modular panels in a wide range of stone types, textures, colors and configurations. A natural product, thin stone veneer is colorfast, will not fade, and resists chipping and scratching. It's like having the best of both worlds . . . . . you get the beauty and durability of natural stone without the traditionally high cost!
For more information about any of the outdoor stone hearths 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 designs to our site.
