Adding an outdoor fireplace to your back garden will add value to your home and will give you the option to stay outside in the evening when the sun has gone down and the temperature has fallen. Make sure you are physically fit enough to undertake the job of building your outdoor fireplace before you begin as it is a very physical job.
It is best to decide before you begin on where you would like your fireplace positioned. Decide how big you want your fireplace to be and take the measurements with you when you go shopping for materials.
The first step is to make sure the ground where you will be positioning your fireplace is level. If you don’t have a patio area on which to place your fireplace then you will have to dig out the mud to get rid of any weeds or big stones. You will then need to level this surface. Pack down a gravel layer tightly on top of the mud. It is a good idea to make sure whoever is delivering your stone unloads it beside where you are building your outdoor fireplace as this can help you avoid extra work carrying stone from one area to another.
The best plan is to mark out your rectangular shape on the ground and then use the larger stones for the base. You need to cement these pieces together. From here on in, the job entails choosing stones and cementing them on top of another. If there are any gaps you can use small pebbles or stones to close the holes. Once the base is approximately one foot tall, you should then smooth the top with some fire resistant cement mix and let it set.
Large stones should then be used to build up the back and sides of the fireplace. They should be set using fire resistant cement. You should make sure you are using your spirit level to make certain that the wall is straight. Continue in this way until your fireplace is measuring four feet tall. Once this is done it would be a good idea to smear the inside of your fireplace with fireproof cement to make sure you have completely filled in any gaps. This will prevent any smoke from escaping through the walls when you have lit your fire.
You should let your new outdoor fireplace settle for a few days before lighting your first fire. Then enjoy your handiwork and get ready for those lazy nights relaxing in your garden while staying warm and cosy.