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.