With the weather starting to turn towards fall and colder weather, being able to still enjoy the outdoors can be a little less… enjoyable. However having some sort of fire feature, such as a fire pit or outdoor fireplace can warm things up in your outdoor space pretty quickly as well as bring people together. In our last blog we discussed the nuances and benefits of having a patio installed at your home, and briefly touched on the idea of having a stone fire pit put in along with that. What we didn’t mention, was that outdoor fireplaces can be an enticing option as well for a fire feature, and they look beautiful. So which option should you go for? We broke it down for you so that you can make the right choice.

Fire Pit

The main upside of the fire pit is the option to be able to surround it, place seating all around, and have an interactive experience with many guests being able to gather and feel the warmth of the fire. Although being able to have the communal gathering around the fire is a huge upside, there are downsides, such as smoke being allowed to flow freely and potentially lead to a bad time for some depending on wind and other factors.

Outdoor Fireplace

The outdoor fireplace makes for a gorgeous statement for your property and can be designed in a number of different ways using a variety different types of stone. The fireplace is used to sit in front of and does not offer that communal surrounding option that a fire pit does but simultaneously it will take up less space than a fire pit arrangement as it can be built on the edge of a patio. You do not have to worry about the smoke issue when it comes to a fireplace, as the chimney directs the smoke up and away. The fireplace is great if combined with a pavilion as well and can be used while it is raining in that case.  

So Which One?

Given this analysis of each option, we say just put on a jacket! Just kidding, fires are great and everyone should have a great way to enjoy them, but the experience you will get from both the fire pit and fireplace are different and depending on what type of person you or your family are will dictate which is better. For example if you’d like to roast marshmallows and sit around with your family telling stories the fire pit is probably for you. If you are looking more for added ambiance and a great looking piece to complete your yard while also providing heat than the fireplace is the choice for you.

Whichever you decide is the right option for you, we are here to help and can assist with your design ideas as well as install and even fill your new feature with wood to burn! Give us a call to learn more.