Is A Chimney Flue A Must?

Customer Questions

I was working on a custom fireplace design and DIY construction plan for a customer the other day. We had just spoken about her fireplace structure. She had asked me questions, one of which was “should I use a chimney flue”? I explained my experience with a chimney flue and the construction method of our designs, answering all her follow up questions. She was eager to learn which made me very happy. When we finished our conversation, the phone rang again, and I answered it.

On the other end of the phone was a man who wanted to build a DIY outdoor fireplace in his backyard. Would you believe he had the exact same question concerning the use of a chimney flue. I spoke with him for a while and answered all his questions. When I hung up, I really started to think back. There were lots phone calls and emails that hit on the specific topic of a chimney flue in our outdoor fireplaces.

Here We Go!

I thought that this same topic would be a good one for my next blog post because the interest is obviously out there. Now let me get started by saying that if you have ten masons in a room and you give them the same picture and dimensions of a fireplace, then say, “Go build it”, it will be built ten different ways. No two structures would be alike. Now I must continue with this and say that all ten fireplaces could very well be functional fireplaces and just because they are all built different doesn’t mean any of them are wrong. They’re just different. We are just one of those masons and ours is simply a different method of building and to some, a different train of thought. The use of a chimney flue is not wrong at all, but we know they aren’t necessary if the structure is built the way we build.

DIY outdoor fireplace fire wreath christmas light flower vase candle — This is a DIY outdoor fireplace built using our plans without a chimney flue.

This is not to say that you absolutely can’t use a chimney flue with our designs, we just know that they aren’t always necessary. A lot of masons build using these clay pipes. Some are square, some are rectangle, and some are round. Some are 12” long and some are three feet long and there are several diameters too. First, I need to go back a bit and explain what a chimney flue is used for. It is literally the tube that lines a chimney and lots of people think they are a necessity.

We Design Without a Chimney Flue

You may be thinking, “how do I not need a flue to direct the smoke”. Our designs are constructed with the interior chimney dimensions being formed by block. In essence, our chimneys designs are all squares and rectangles. There are no round edges or round entryways to our chimney openings so square and rectangle blocks dictate the way everything is formed.

diy outdoor gas fireplace stacked stone golf course arizona — Even our fireplace with no chimney functions well.

Backyard Flare fireplace designs incorporate a large throat chimney, so the inside of the chimney does not get super-hot. Our cinder block fireplace designs have been heat tested and they are hotter in the Arizona summer than in the winter months with a fire burning. I can literally stand up on my fireplace after a fire has been burning for 15-20 minutes and stick my hand inside the chimney opening. I can hold my bare hand against the inside of the chimney from the top and it is warm, but not so hot that it is unbearable. This is the reason we can say that the inside of our chimneys aren’t even as hot as it is on a sunny Arizona day.

diy outdoor fireplace — This is Backyard Flare’s first ever fireplace built in 2007. No chimney flue was used and it still works great with no breakdown of the chimney blocks.

Lots of people will say you need to build your chimney with a clay flue for purposes of heat, thus keeping the heat off the cinder block. I say, if your chimney opening is big enough, not restricting the smoke and heat, you don’t need a chimney flue. You can open a chimney up pretty big and not even affect the draft of the structure, so it’s basically up to you which build method you want to subscribe to.

How Are We Different?

Backyard Flare construction plans use the same basic build method above the firebox from design to design. These chimneys appear different from the outside too. We have never had a draft problem, so we know we have a tried and true method of building that does not require a chimney flue, thus reducing the cost of the final structure.

I hope his post has helped you out and that it has answered a few questions. Let us know if you have any further questions and we will make every attempt to get you an answer. Thanks for reading and if you are wanting to build a DIY outdoor fireplace, visit www.backyardflare.com for the best and most comprehensive DIY construction plans on the market. As I always say, happy building.

DIY Outdoor Fireplace and Concrete Pads

Concrete or Dirt? That is the Question

cDIY Concrete slab in backyard with grass wood — Concrete slab is ready for cinderblock.

The other day my phone rang and it was a customer of Backyard Flare that had purchased a DIY construction plan for the Pima II design. This customer was looking for information about whether he needed to build the fireplace on a concrete pad or whether he could just build it on the dirt. This question comes in quite often so I wanted to address it again. Concrete pads are necessary for a masonry outdoor fireplace.

Where You Live is Important

DIY concrete pad deck level outdoor fireplace — Finished concrete is ready for block work

Think about all the places you have been and the ground you have walked on. There’s Arizona with ground so hard that it almost takes a jack hammer to dig down a couple inches. Then there’s Florida with gorgeous sandy beaches, but that sandy soil reaches inland too. You have the northeast states that have frost lines so deep, that it’s a wonder that it ever thaws out. And we can’t forget the northwest that gets a lot of rain that could create washout conditions.

There is our dilemma with phone calls relating to how thick or whether a concrete pad is necessary. Even here in Arizona, I always build my outdoor structures on concrete. This is for peace of mind so if there is any ground settling, the structure will hopefully be okay.

If a masonry built structure settles, and it has been built on a running bond (stair step) block pattern, the cracking will look like a stair step going up. The blocks will often separate at the seams, not crack. This is not the way you want your outdoor structure to end up, because you spent your hard labor to build it.

What should you do?

Do it right from the beginning and pour some concrete. Support that structure and keep it from settling and cracking. Now you say, that’s all fine and dandy, but how thick does the concrete need to be? There’s an issue with that portion of the concrete pad question in that there is no “one answer” to that question. There is no recommendation that we can give you because your geographic area and soil will dictate the answer.

Remember all the different soil types we cited a few paragraphs ago? There are so many variables that exist that will need to be addressed and recognized before a concrete pad thickness answer can be formulated. Our advice is to seek out some professionals in the concrete industry and ask. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and see if there is a person who used to pour concrete for a living that is working there in retirement. They are sometimes a wealth of information. Go to the internet and search for recommendations based on your soil type and geographic area. Again, lots of information.

Test Time

So, what have we learned? I always recommend a concrete pad for an outdoor masonry built fireplace or kitchen. There is no hard and fast recipe that applies to everyone that they should follow to pour the pad, so go find your local resources. They’re out there.

If you would like to discuss your backyard outdoor fireplace or kitchen and would like to learn more about the DIY world we love so much, visit Backyard Flare. We can help make it a reality, saving you thousands of dollars. Give your backyard a face-lift and beautify your outdoor space.

Thanks for reading and as always, happy building.

Dan Heston
Backyard Flare, LLC
Tucson, Arizona

You Can Do It

Feeling Apprehensive?

You can do it!!! I remember receiving a phone call from Shelley who said she lived in New Jersey. Shelley explained to me that she was single, in her sixties, and that she lived on a piece of property that had a small creek running through it down the hill from her backyard. Shelley explained that she really wanted an outdoor fireplace but that she was super apprehensive about doing it herself. Because of the limited knowledge she had about masonry construction, Shelley was concerned with her age and ability to do the physical labor. I asked her some questions about her ability to lift and explained what the project would require.

Shelley Said Yes to the Outdoor Fireplace

We talked it through, and by the end, Shelley was ready to take on the challenge. A DIY outdoor fireplace does not have to be intimidating or seem out of the realm of possibility if you have the right tools, preparation, and a good plan. A construction plan that is…something that will take the guess work out of the project. If you are physically able to lift a 60-pound bag of mortar, or if you have someone who can do it for you, that’s the first step. If you’re willing to step into a work site with an open mind, then you too can do what Shelley did.

Shelley built her very own DIY outdoor fireplace and although it was small, it made a huge impact in her backyard and it is definitely a focal point. Do you agree, and do you think you want to join the DIY world? She had us do some special design work to make the fireplace what she wanted. We angled the chimney on all sides and designed the firebox to be low on the structure, which gave it a neat look.

It Was Fun According to Shelley

DIY outdoor fireplace plan — The fireplace sits on the edge of the patio with the treeline in the background.

After building the structure, Shelley said that she took her time and didn’t push hard to get it done quickly. She said that if she could do it in her sixties, then anyone could do it. This is a testament that most people have the capability to do more than they truly think. There is an inner construction worker in most of us. Give your insecurities to us and let us provide you with a DIY construction plan. If you follow it, you to will be able to build a beautiful outdoor fireplace just like Shelley did.

DIY outdoor fireplace with fire — Shelley built her first fire and started making memories.

If you are wanting to learn more about the process of building a DIY outdoor fireplace, visit us online at Backyard Flare. We know that you can do it and that we can help. A construction plan may be exactly what you need to overcome the fear of building so you can DIY too. Thanks so much for reading and we hope to hear from you soon. Leave a comment and let us know if you think you’re up for a DIY project.

As always, happy building,

Dan

DIY Summer

Get Excited

Oh my gosh, I am excited about this DIY summer. So many people are diving into great DIY outdoor fireplace and outdoor kitchen projects. We have received countless emails and calls about custom fireplaces and are really pumped to see these structures built. There are so many great ideas and backyard spaces that are begging for a stunning outdoor fireplace. Do you have one of those spaces? If you said yes, we want to hear from you too.

The best part about a late spring and summer build is that you can take your time on the construction. By doing most of the building during the hotter parts of the spring and summer, there won’t be any rush to complete the structure. Your construction can be solely a few hours each weekend or sporadic hours throughout the week. Those cooler days will arrive and when they do, the fireplace will be ready to go.

I was at a graduation party a couple days ago and it just so happened to be at a friend’s house where I built Backyard Flare’s second ever fireplace. This structure is absolutely huge. I remember building this structure in the heat of the Arizona summer, under the beating rays of the sun. Plenty of water was consumed and I think we are still paying off the credit card bill from our purchase of sunscreen. We killed a saw while cutting block and even drew a little bit of blood during the build. Those things at the time were a nuisance, but now I look back on them and smile, remembering all the fun we actually had during construction.

Reminiscing an old DIY Summer

During the graduation party, I ventured out into the backyard and walked around the fireplace to reminisce. It was built on an old basketball court after the homeowner’s kids grew up and moved out. I wanted to stoke up a fire, but because the temperature was still in the 90s, I decided that that wasn’t necessary. I took a few pics to show my wife that the fireplace still looked great after more than ten years.

DIY Outdoor fireplace in Tucson. — Decade old outdoor fireplace in Tucson, Arizona.

DIY outdoor fireplace with stucco and tile finish — The memories around an old fireplace are great. Build your own memories.

What I’m getting at is that a well built outdoor fireplace or kitchen becomes backyard furniture in a sense. A decade later, a fireplace will still be there, begging to be used.

Contact Us

Let us know how we can help if you are interested in stepping into a fantastic DIY build. Visit us at www.backyardflare.com, email us at dan@backyardflare.com, or call Dan at 520-269-9740. We would love the opportunity to help you design a beautiful fireplace or kitchen. Take care and as always…happy building!

Dan Heston

DIY Outdoor Fireplace and Pizza Oven Combos

DIY Fireplaces and Pizza Ovens Together? Yes…of course.

With any backyard comes building and design decisions. One of the great ways to spice up your space is to plan for more than two or even three things in one structure. If you’re building a fireplace or an outdoor kitchen, then you should really think about incorporating a pizza oven into the structure. It will add some additional build time and some extra cost, but it is a lot of fun to build and use. So when you are making decisions, think about a DIY outdoor fireplace and pizza oven combo.

Pizza ovens, like DIY fireplaces, do not have to cost an arm and a leg. You can build them using pre-cut molds, making your construction very simple. There are different styles of pizza ovens, like barrel type or dome type. With the different styles come different looks and various sizes. The overall functionality remains the same however, as they will retain crazy amounts of heat. This crazy heat will cook pizzas in a matter of just a few minutes.

DIY outdoor fireplace and pizza oven
Cook away and have fun

Imagine having a backyard party with lots of family and friends hanging out. You’ve set out the pizza fixings and you have partitioned the pizza dough for perfect personal size pizzas. The sauce, the cheese, the veggies, the meat, all sizzling inside your pizza oven as each guest brings you their masterpiece to cook.

#outdoorfireplace #outdoorliving #fireplace #diy #outdoorcooking #masonry #outdoor #backyardflare #backyardideas #outdoorkitchen #pizzaoven — Outdoor gas fireplace and pizza oven combo with lots of seating.

If you are intrigued about the possibility of a pizza oven incorporated into a fireplace or an outdoor kitchen structure, visit a great company, BrickWood Ovens at www.brickwoodovens.com. Backyard Flare, LLC has worked alongside owner Kevin at BrickWood Ovens, and we have used their foam molds to build very cool ovens here in Arizona.

where to go for more info

Visit the gallery at BrickWood Ovens and even at Backyard Flare, and you’ll see some great fireplace/pizza oven combo structures. The beauty is that both Backyard Flare and BrickWood Ovens cater to you, the DIY homeowner, who wants the challenge of building yourself. You can do it with construction plans, foam molds, some perseverance, ingenuity, and dedication and attention to detail.

Give it a shot and if you need any questions answered, please call Dan at 520-269-9740 or visit Backyard Flare at www.backyardflare.com.

DIY in 2018

Oh, it’s cold, but let’s start planning for later

Hello all you DIY enthusiasts, time to get your mind wrapped around the “DIY in 2018” mindset. It’s time to figure out what great projects you will be building. Something indoors is always good when Jack Frost is still hanging around, but why not get started on designing your new backyard?

#diyin2018 #outdoorfireplace #outdoorliving #fireplace #diy #outdoorcooking #masonry #outdoor #backyardflare #backyardideas #outdoorkitchen #pizzaoven — Lots of seating surround this enormous fireplace and pizza oven structure.

Bring that outdoor living space to life and build a beautiful outdoor fireplace and outdoor kitchen in your back yard. While you’re at it, add a pizza oven and a sitting area. Cover the whole project in faux stone veneer and stucco with a matching paint color and get to living outdoors.

The new year brings great deals and lots of sales on grills, grates, outdoor furniture, and even building supplies too. Grilling out during the super cold months of January and February probably aren’t optimal, but if you get the supplies and the plan ready, you can start building right when the weather turns for the better.

#outdoorfireplace #outdoorliving #fireplace #diy #outdoorcooking #diyin2018 #masonry #outdoor #backyardflare #backyardideas #outdoorkitchen #pizzaoven — Outdoor gas fireplace and pizza oven combo with lots of seating.

We here at Backyard Flare can help you with a great design and we can certainly work with whatever structure shape you want to achieve. Give us the dimensions and space you have to work with and we will show you some great possibilities. We will work with you along the way and you’ll stay involved during the whole process. It’s a fun process and you’re in charge.

Have a great beginning to your 2018 and let us help you get into the “DIY in 2018” mindset. Happy New Year and happy building.

Outdoor Fireplaces and Draft Problems

Outdoor Fireplace Draft

I was surfing the web the other day as I do quite often and I noticed differences between good and bad drafting structures. If you know what to look for, it’s very apparent, an it almost always has to do with the outdoor fireplace draft. Some of the best looking fireplaces seemed to be the dirtiest. I started paying attention to the fireboxes of some of these fireplaces.

Gas Fireplaces – The Good and Bad

A lot of fireplaces are designed and plumbed to burn natural gas or propane. Gas fireplaces are easily controlled and can be turned on and off quickly. This can also be problematic if the structure isn’t built correctly.

Even with a gas fireplace, burning either natural gas or propane, which are very popular, soot build up can still be a problem. This occurs if the fireplace does not vent well. Heat rise in a fireplace is most often referred to as the draft. The single most important aspect of any fireplace, inside or outside, is its functionality and whether the smoke rises effectively. This will be either through the chimney or out the front of the firebox and up the front of the structure.

Now some may think that because a gas fireplace doesn’t produce smoke that it shouldn’t matter. The truth is that gas fireplaces are sometimes dirtier than a wood burning fireplace when it comes to soot discoloration of the structure.

Pay attention to the inside of outdoor fireplaces that you see around your town. Stick your head inside and look up. Do you see a tiny chimney opening, or a large opening that will collect the smoke before allowing it to evacuate upward? Most of the time, there will be very apparent issues with regard to the path of least resistance. When a firebox height in is equal to the chimney opening, you will have problems with a bad draft.

Importance of a Good Fireplace Draft

The smoke or invisible soot from a gas burn will exit the structure through the front when draft is affected. This smoke and/or soot will travel right up the front of the structure and the front will turn black. A wet rag and some dish soap can easily remove the soot from a fireplace. It’s just a hassle to deal with.

If you’re interested in building a beautiful outdoor fireplace in your backyard or if you just want to explore the possibility and learn more about them, please visit us at www.backyardflare.com. Thanks for reading.

3 Great Ways to Finish Your Outdoor Fireplace

After building your outdoor fireplace, outdoor kitchen, or other outdoor structure, there are endless ways to finish the look. You will have to consider options for both your horizontal and vertical surfaces as well as extra bling such as lighting.

This article isn’t long enough to possibly explain or list the seemingly endless combinations of veneer and seating options so we’ll just briefly talk about a few of the more popular looks. There are a lot of manufacturers that make and deal in different types of products but they all effectively do the same thing. They add a beauty to the outside surface of your outdoor fireplace. Faux stone, tile, stacked real stone, and stucco are among the most popular looks.

Vertical Surfaces

The basic purpose of these vertical veneers is to cover the drab gray cinder block. Let’s go through them one by one. Faux stone looks very realistic and it can add a rustic look like the fireplace was built entirely out of rock. Lots of different looks are available. Tile veneers can expand into regular ceramics or even a natural travertine stone. These tile veneers will give you a more modern look most of the time.

Outdoor fireplace with stacked stone, flagstone and lighting — Stacked stone and lighting on a three sided outdoor fireplace

Stacked stone is a real stone that has been milled and shaped so the pieces fit together nicely. Some of the better products will look seamless. The small size of the stone allows for several different colors and stone variations to be used in conjunction with each other. Very elegant. The final veneer that offers a great look is stucco. Stucco can be textured or applied as a smoother surface. The beauty of stucco is that it weathers well and it can be painted to match other items in your backyard.

Horizontal Surfaces

When it comes to the horizontal surfaces of the outdoor fireplace, look to natural stone for a smorgasbord of different textures and colors. Most of this stone is very easy to work with. You will cut the sections of stone with the same diamond blade you used to build your cinder block structure.

Flagstone seating on an outdoor fireplace — Flagstone ready for trimming

If you decide on the color of the vertical veneer and the horizontal surface material at the same time, you can pick great matching elements. Certain colors and textures really complement each other but there is definitely no “one way” to complete the finish work of the structure. As far as veneer and horizontal surface material is concerned you have more options than you can imagine.

Lighting

Lighting is a great way to add that special flair to any outdoor fireplace. It brings a certain elegance to the fireplace and if used along the bottom of the hearth, it will frame it nicely. Low voltage lighting is the way to go for this look and the addition of this lighting is relatively inexpensive.

Comment on this article with your thoughts. Share your favorite final look and/or what you did to make your fireplace a one of a kind.

Visit us at www.backyardflare.com for great content and ideas for your outdoor fireplace.

Three Phases to Plan Your Backyard

Building Your Backyard

If you have ever wondered how to go about building your backyard to perfection, then keep reading. We hope this article will give you a bit of guidance.

For many, their backyard area is an eyesore. Others just need a bit of spicing up. If you are in either category, you can achieve the perfect backyard if you adhere to the right phases in the right order.

Building your backyard
Phase One
planning

The first phase is planning the layout. Step back and really look at what you have. This will be a great time to brainstorm with a tablet of paper and pencil to sketch out different scenarios. By drawing different layouts on a piece of paper, you can compare the different possibilities and see what works the best for your space. You may find that certain layouts will make better sense than others. Talk your ideas over with family and friends and take in their ideas. You never know, you may not have thought of everything.

Building your backyard
PHASE TWO
gathering

The second phase is gathering what you will need to get the job done. This includes everything from a construction plan, the tools necessary, and the materials needed to build your project. If you are wanting to build a masonry structure, have the vendor deliver the blocks, mortar, and cement on a pallet to as close to the work site as possible.

The tools needed are sometimes specialized so you won’t have too many other opportunities to use them again. These will be trowels, masonry cutting blades, etc. Borrow what you can and don’t buy them if you don’t have to. If you must buy a tool, buy cheap, and even if you must buy two, it still may not be as expensive as one professional grade tool.

Building your backyard
PHASE THREE

The third phase is the best part, the building of the project. A solid foundation is paramount for many masonry structures due to their weight. A lack of stability under a masonry structure could result in shifting and cracking. The building phase is a great time to get help from family and friends. Sometimes a pizza and beverages go a long way.

The building phase will be the part everyone will see so definitely take your time and pay attention to the small stuff, the detail, the minutia. It’s the attention to detail that will make your project a stand-out backyard.

When you get to lighting and irrigation make sure you don’t have too much of the project finished. This is especially irritating if you have to rip out some of the progress to add electrical and water lines.

While building your backyard, pay attention to the phases and your project will turn out to be the talk of the town thus your neighbors and family will be in awe. Be careful because you will then be the go-to for the how to.

If you need any assistance on a masonry structure like a fireplace, kitchen, pizza oven, and want a DIY construction plan, visit www.backyardflare.com. Building your backyard does not have to be a chore or burden. We’ll help you along the way and give you the insight you’ll need to get it done and on a budget. Happy building.

Great Ways to Finish Your Outdoor Fireplace

There are some great ways to finish your outdoor fireplace. Basically, there are endless of ways to add the finishing touches which will make your outdoor fireplace a one of a kind. Even if you build the basic rough structure that another person constructed, yours will look different.

If you pay attention to detail, your fireplace and backyard landscape can look like something in a magazine. We will cover five of the big finishing touches and things you can do to give your fireplace the wow factor.

1. Low voltage lighting

Even when the fireplace is not being used, low voltage lighting is a great way to add a great night time visual aspect to it. The lighting is powered by a transformer specifically designed for these types of lights. By connecting the fireplace lights to landscape lighting in your yard, everything will be illuminated at the same time.

Lighting adds a great look to any fireplace

2. Natural stone seating surface

By using a natural stone material for the seating, you will have a very durable, and inexpensive surface. There are a couple widely used stone options, such as flagstone and bluestone. Both can be purchased at landscape supply retailers and you will have tons of colors and patterns to choose from. Cutting the stone is as simple as using a diamond blade for a smooth edge or a chisel and hammer for a rough rustic edge.

3. Stacked Stone Veneer

Stacked stone is a great way to finished the vertical surfaces of the fireplace, but it can be somewhat expensive as compared to other finish options. This type of material is purchased in arrangements that will fit together seamlessly. The stone is real and engineered during the cut process, meaning that it will be very easy to install. Cutting this stone will take a bit more time and patience as it is sometimes brittle.

Stacked stone added to the fireplace hearth.

4 . Faux Veneer

Faux veneer is a fabulous way to add a cheaper finish to the outside of your fireplace than natural stone. The great thing about faux veneer is that you can find virtually any texture, color, shape, and size imaginable. The faux stone is basically a manmade product that is painted and finished to look just like a real material. The faux stone is very easy to cut but it may take a bit of extra time fitting it together. There is no “one way” to put it together most of the time, so using your Tetris skills will come in handy. Faux veneer will usually require corner pieces that will give you a great finished look as the material wraps from one vertical surface to another.

faux veneer outdoor fireplace — DIY built fireplace with faux veneer.

5. Wrought iron accents

Wrought iron accents will add both a décor and some functionality to your fireplace. First, add an elevated fire grate in your firebox. This will both give you a great look, but it will aid in keeping your burning wood elevated for proper air flow. Fireplace tools will give you the capability of working and stoking your fire as you need to. Many tools sets will come with a holder as well keeping it nice and neat.

outdoor fireplace wrought iron — Adding wrought iron definitely adds character.

Well there you go, five considerations that if done right, will set your fireplace on a pedestal. You don’t have to do them all to achieve a great look, but they certainly won’t hurt.

If you want to build your own outdoor fireplace, check out www.backyardflare.com for some great ideas and inspiration. We are sure you will get a vision for how you can transform your backyard into a great destination.