Weekend DIY: Add a firepit to your backyard

I love outdoor fire pits. Growing up I was always the one in charge of building and lighting the fire, but when I moved to the city, my days of outdoor blazes were over, until, that is, I purchased an outdoor fireplace for the back deck. Not only does it safely contain the flames, but it looks great amidst the deck ambience; plus, it adds a bit of heat. And in early fall, heat is key to outdoor living.

Just because fall's setting in doesn't mean the end to patio season. After all, golden sunsets, grilled grub and comfy chairs still suit outdoor living. Sure, it's getting colder, but that chill's got nothing on outdoor heaters and fireplaces. So before you start trucking your chaise lounges to the garage for winter storage, check out the following options.

Before I begin, though, it's worth pointing out a few caveats. For one, not all municipalities allow outdoor burning, so before you build or buy an outdoor fireplace, make sure it's allowed and meets any by-law requirements. Heaters, of course, are fine and don't require any permissions because there's no open flame.

One more thing: fall is the best time to buy outdoor furniture and accessories. Hardware stores and other retailers are already thinking winter, so outdoor living is usually on clearance. So even if you don't plan on building any outdoor fires this year, check out the following for the spring.

Chiminea
A few years ago, Mexican-style chimineas started popping up in hardware and garden stores. Usually made from clay, these little chimneys (usually pear-shaped with an opening in the front) are relatively cheap and easy to maintain. Lighting a fire is simple because the opening and chimney create a wind tunnel, so wood lights quickly. The only drawback is the wood tends to burn quickly. Still, though, for the money-typically between $75 and $300, depending on size and other features, such as a clasped mesh door-these are good buys. As well, they're portable, so you can move them around depending on where you sitting, and then put it away in the winter months.

Standalone fire pit
Short and squat, these pits are similar to chimineas in portability and price, but instead of having a tall chimney, they're more like raised camping pits. So if this is the aesthetic you crave-pretend you're camping-standalone fire pits are a good choice.



Stainless Steel Heater
You've likely seen these heaters at bars or restaurants. Unlike fire pits and chimineas, these tall heaters provide more focused heat. Like a household heater, you plug it in and adjust the heat level. Make sure you buy one with a large cap, which helps direct heat down instead of allowing it to simply sift away into the stars. Pricing can be a bit steeper than fire pits, around $200 or more.

Wall-mounted Infrared Heater
If space is tight, these wall-mounting heaters make the grade. From below, they look almost like wide lights, but provide heat as well as a gentle glow. Quick and simple, these would work great on a condo patio or small deck. Price: about $220 per heater.

 

Page 1 of 1

Read more in Woodworking Projects and Outdoor Furniture