A fireplace is a great addition to any back yard, adding an instant touch of sophistication and beauty, as well as the practical benefits of extra warmth and a good place to cook.  However, a fireplace alone won’t be of much use to you if you don’t have the right tools to use it properly.  Here are five of the most useful outdoor fireplace accessories for new owners to purchase.

Fire Screen
Fire screens are important accessories for the safety of your outdoor fireplace, as well as having a practical purpose.  They prevent logs from rolling out of the fireplace, keep down the amount of soot and cinders that escape the fire to swirl around the air, and prevent accidents such as a loose piece of clothing coming too close to the flames.  Plus, they look pretty, too!

Grills and Rotisseries
Cooking over your outdoor fireplace will be both easier and more fun if you have the right kinds of grills to work with the meals you want to serve.  Consider a rotisserie for tender, juicy grilled chicken, rib racks for that delectable barbeque taste, or a sandwich cooker for the perfect hamburger.

Outdoor Fireplace Tools
To create, maintain, and clean up after the perfect fire, you need to have the right tools for the job.  Long tongs and a poker to position logs, a bellows to fan the flames, and a shovel to empty the ashes are a few of the tools that you’ll need to work with your outdoor fireplace effectively.

Chimney Caps
Drafts can cause a good fire to belch flames and soot, and water in your chimney can extinguish one altogether.  Keep your outdoor fire in prime condition with a chimney cap to keep out wind, dirt, and rain.

Fireplace Covers
Protect your outdoor fireplace when it is not in use with a sturdy fireplace cover.  You can add years of life to your backyard fire pit with this simple precaution.

If you love entertaining outdoors, you don’t have to stop when the weather turns cooler and the nights start drawing in.  An outdoor fire pit means that you can have a cosy fire, when and where you want it.  Fire pits are affordable and decorative – so now you can entertain all the year round!

What is a fire pit?

Although it sounds like a crudely dug hole in your garden, a fire pit is a freestanding, decorative basket or bowl on legs, in which you burn an open fire.

The least expensive version is called a kettle.  These are basins, bowls or baskets on legs that are used for burning wood or charcoal.  They are available in many finishes such as iron, terracotta, stainless steel and copper.  Many models also include a screen lid to control sparks and a grill that simply sits on top of the fire so that you can cook on them as well.

The great thing about these is that they are fairly lightweight and portable so you could put one in the car and take it to the beach or use it when you’re camping.

You can enhance your open fire experience by burning different woods.  Red Cedar and Pinion Pine both smell lovely and are great for keeping mosquitoes away.  Apple wood also smells beautiful and burgers grilled over a hickory fire are unbelievable!

The downside of these off-ground fire pits is that there is no form of chimney and so they can smoke rather a lot.

Is there anything I shouldn’t burn?

Wood which has been pressure treated can give off toxic gases while it’s burning.  If it has a greenish tinge to it, it may have been pressure treated.  If in doubt – don’t use it!
Wood which is green or damp can give off a lot of smoke which could be annoying for your neighbours.

Hassle-free fires

If you are prepared to spend more, you could indulge yourself with a gas fired model.  Simply flick the switch and enjoy real flames without the hassle – or smoke!  These can be run on propane tanks or natural gas hooked up to your household supply.

It doesn’t matter whether you love hi-tech stainless steel, granite or antiqued metal – there will be a fire pit to suit your tastes.

Many of the gas powered models are quite heavy as they are made from glass fiber reinforced concrete and although that sounds rough – they don’t look like concrete at all.  You can choose from Grecian Urns, Pottery vases, granite tables with inset fire pits – the list goes on!  Some of the more modern designs even include coloured glass in place of logs.

Fire pits vary tremendously in size and design so shop around until you find the right one to suit your available space and your budget.

If you love outdoor dining, it doesn’t have to end when summer goes.  A real fire can add warmth, intimacy and a glow to your entertaining.  Your guests will never want to leave!

There are now many kinds of outdoor wood heater to choose from, including one of the first methods of decorative outdoor heating, the ever-popular chiminea.

What is a chiminea?

A chiminea is a free-standing open fireplace that has a bulbous base and a vertical vent, or chimney, for smoke.  These were originally used by Mexican tribesmen for warmth and a method of heating for their families.

The first chimineas exported for worldwide use were made of clay and designed for use in hot countries.  Many people were not aware that their new chiminea needed curing before use.  It’s recommended that you should make five small fires in the bottom of the chiminea pot, one after the other, allowing each to cool completely before setting the next one.  People who didn’t do this found that their chimineas had problems with thermal shock – which is cracking, due to a rapid change in temperature.  As a result of this, chimineas fell from favour for a while.  But now they are back in some beautiful cast iron, antiqued metal and aluminium designs.  These are understandably more expensive than the clay versions but wear a lot better.

Other forms of patio wood heaters.

Fire pits are becoming very popular.  These are freestanding decorative ‘baskets’ in which small logs (or charcoal) can be burned as an open fire.

Many of these come with an optional grill so that they can be used for cooking as well as heating.  If you buy one of these, check for an inner fire cage which will make cleaning a lot easier.  If you have children or animals, it’s a good idea to buy one with a safety lid, usually of metal mesh.

If you’re worried about an open fire on your patio, take a look at the beautiful freestanding models which fully enclose the fire.  You can choose from styles ranging from ultra modern stainless steel to bygone era elegance in antiqued metal.

Outdoor fireplaces are just that – full fireplaces built in your outdoor space.  They are the most expensive form of all the outdoor heating options but as they are such beautiful permanent features, they would add value to your house.

Safety Tips for Outdoor fires

Be very careful where you place portable fire pits.

• They should be at least ten feet away from the house, fences or trees.
• Don’t forget that decking is combustible.  Some places have banned the use of firepits on decking that serves apartment buildings or duplexes.  Check with your local regulations before you buy.
• Invest in a fire extinguisher and keep it easily accessible – or have a bucket of water and a shovel close by.
• Don’t let children or animals near the fire.  The enclosed models can become very hot externally.
• Don’t ever leave the fire unattended.
• Ensure that the embers have burned out completely before retiring for the night.
• Never position outdoor heaters or fires beneath overhanging tree branches.
• Keep any extra wood well away from the fire.

Why do people love to entertain and host parties outdoors? If you ask this question of a dozen people their answers for the most part would likely focus on how much easier it is to have a party outside rather than indoors. There is less mess to clean up, it’s less crowded, and you can invite more guests than you would be able to if the party was inside. But if you plan to host a party in the evening, it could be quite chilly and uncomfortable to entertain outdoors. Electric patio heaters, though, can warm things up for you and your guests.

There are several different types of patio heaters. You can choose from freestanding heaters, mobile heaters, in ground, tabletop heatersor ceiling and wall mounted heaters. The type of heater you choose will primarily depend on your space, heating needs and budget. By far the least expensive of these options are the table top heaters. Mobile heaters are also less expensive than the other options.

The most expensive type of electric heater used to be the wall and ceiling mounted heater. Averaging at about $1,000, these heaters were best chosen if you used the outdoor space for entertaining often or if you use it commercially. However, prices have dropped dramatically and you can now find these types of heaters at realistic costs. So if a wall-mounted heater will work best for your space as far as placement and heat distribution are concerned,  then you will certainly be able to pick one up that suits your budget..

If you like to move or rearrange your outdoor entertainment area, it might be best to stick with more mobile options such as the table-top heater or freestanding heater. Both of these heaters put out a great deal of heat and can be easily moved to where the warmth is needed most.

As you can see, there are many outdoor electric heating choices and really no reason for you to continue bringing the party indoors on chilly nights. With an electric outdoor patio heater you can entertain outdoors comfortably well into the cooler months

For many years, an Endless Summer outdoor heater was the mark of a high-end commercial establishment.  These powerful and attractive patio heaters allowed businesses such as restaurants to keep their popular outdoor seating areas open far later into the season.

Today, however, you don’t have to be a large company to enjoy safe and powerful year-round heating for your backyard or patio.  Uniflame is offering a line of affordable Endless Summer heaters designed for the private residence.  Available online or from mass marketers such as WalMart and Sam’s Club, these handsome outdoor heaters often cost less than $200.

For that small investment, you can totally transform the usefulness of your outdoor living space.  An Endless Summer heater can raise the ambient temperature by up to 30°F in a 20-foot radius around itself.  That means you can enjoy balmy temperatures in the 70’s, even when the air outside your circle of warmth is barely above freezing.  Enjoy barbeques, fresh air, companionable chats, and the relaxation of sipping a drink on your back porch, all year round.

With fuel prices rising every year, you will be glad to hear that Endless Summer heaters are highly economical.  They utilize an efficient liquid propane tank, which means that your electricity bills won’t rise, and you won’t have to worry about running an extension cord out to your patio.  At the same time, liquid propane means that you won’t have to worry about keeping firewood on hand, or the smoke disturbing your neighbors.

Of course, safety is always an issue with any kind of outdoor heater.  That is why Endless Summer models come equipped with an automatic shut-off feature.  If your heater is in danger of falling, it will turn itself off to prevent a fire hazard.

If enjoying your patio all year round sounds like a dream come true, a safe and powerful Endless Summer heater is an excellent choice.  View our excellent selection to find the right model for your outdoor living space today.

Would you like to have the atmosphere and convenience of having an outdoor firepit for warmth and cooking, without the cost of purchasing one pre-made?  If so, the good news is that building your own custom firepit is both easy and rewarding.  However, getting started with fire pit building can be daunting if you have never done it before.  Here are the basic planning steps that you’ll need to follow to enjoy the warmth of an outdoor fire in your own back yard.

1. Decide what type of firepit you want.

An outdoor fire pit can burn wood, use a propane gas tank, or be attached to your home’s natural gas lines.  Your choice of fuel will influence many factors, from the placement of your pit to the designs that will work best for you, so it’s a good idea to make this decision early.

2. Scope out a site for your fire pit.

Your next step will be to decide where you will want to build.  Outdoor fire pits are permanent structures, so you’ll want to choose well.  Pick a place that is a safe distance away from flammable structures and foot traffic in your yard.  You’ll also want to choose a spot that has room for people to sit around the campfire and enjoy its warmth.  Before you get your heart set on a particular location, check with your local fire department to find out what laws and ordinances in your area apply.

3. Get inspired.

Firepits come in a wide variety of styles and materials.  In order to ensure that your hard work results in a pit enhances the atmosphere of your backyard or patio area, look over a wide variety of choices to pick the design that most inspires you.  Design magazines, home television shows, outdoor living books, and internet sites are excellent sources of inspiration.

Once you have a plan in mind, building your own firepit is an affordable way to raise home values and to increase your own enjoyment of your outdoor living area.