Fire features are a popular part of outdoor living spaces for many people around our region. When considering the types and design options, homeowners are often left with questions about what will work best for their area, needs, and style. Whether you’re considering a wood-burning or gas-fueled fireplace or fire pit, we’ll help you determine the best possible design for your outdoor living space.
What Kind of Outdoor Fireplace Design is Best for Kansas City Homeowners?
Both outdoor fireplaces and fire pits work well for the Kansas City area. If you get a lot of wind, an outdoor fireplace may work better by protecting the burn area from the wind while the chimney ensures sparks don’t get away from you and start a fire. If your neighborhood is more sheltered, a fire pit can work very well. But what’s the difference between these two types of outdoor fire features?
Outdoor Fireplace
An outdoor fireplace is typically located on a patio to provide a comfortable place to enjoy a hot fire on a cool evening or for roasting marshmallows during a summer barbeque. It’s open on at least one side, though in Kansas City’s windy areas, we recommend having at least one or two sides enclosed to make it easier to get fires started and to keep it from getting out of hand once lit. The chimney directs smoke upward, away from your enjoyable outdoor space, while controlling sparks, helping prevent fires.
Fire Pit
Adding a warm, cozy ambiance to elevate virtually any outdoor living space, a fire pit makes for a perfect place to gather around when hosting or simply enjoying the great outdoors. Fire pits are typically open and can include grates or spits for cooking. Because they don’t require as much structure, they’re typically not as expensive as outdoor fireplaces, but require good design to allow water to flow out from Kansas City’s regular rainfall. Sparks can fly up from a fire pit, so making sure that your fire pit is constantly being monitored is an important part of safety.
Have Questions? Contact Pfeifer Landscaping
Whether you’ve decided to update your outdoor spaces with fire pits or outdoor fireplaces, constructing one that will work well and provide some great benefits for your specific situation is important to ensure you’ll get a lot of use and enjoyment out of your investment. Whether you’re looking at outdoor fireplace options or need some help with landscape design Kansas City homeowners and business owners turn to Pfeifer Landscaping for exceptional design options. Please feel free to contact us today for more information on our service, with any questions or to discuss making your next outdoor project extraordinary.