How to Build a DIY Outdoor Fireplace

If you’re reading this, you either stumbled on it, or you were actively searching for information on how to build a DIY outdoor fireplace. Either way, welcome and I am so happy that I can share this with you. I get questions on a daily basis from people who say they were excited when they finally found Backyard Flare. Building a DIY outdoor fireplace became a reality at that time for many people who originally thought they needed to figure it out on their own.

Masonry construction outdoor fireplace with storage and concrete lintels — Build your DIY outdoor fireplace and then veneer it however you like. There are no rules.

Can anyone really do it? Actually “yes” you can.

So, if you are able to lift a bag of concrete off the ground, then I believe you have what it takes to build a DIY outdoor fireplace. Believe me, it doesn’t require that you have to have worked with masonry before. If you have only ever seen cinder blocks while walking past them at Home Depot or Lowes, you are still able to build if you follow our construction plans.

Cinder block DIY outdoor fireplace with construction plan — Print your DIY outdoor fireplace plan and bring it to the work site. So easy.

Our designs are very simple even though they are absolutely gorgeous. And the best part is that the majority of our customers are people who are new to the world of DIY outdoor fireplace building. Many have never mixed mortar or used power tools. Our construction plans show people in a very detailed way how to go about putting a DIY outdoor fireplace together.

What do the DIY outdoor fireplace plans work?

We created DIY outdoor fireplace construction plans that are so easy to follow and comprehensive. Most of the guess work is taken away. The construction plans contain large, easy to see, isometric diagrams, and lots of very detailed written instructions. Imagine following a Lego book, but add the written part in as well for more detail. You will take the materials list in the plan and buy exactly what it says, as we have calculated each block and material down to the amount you’ll need. Pretty cool huh?

Cinder block anyone?

Our DIY outdoor fireplace construction plans all follow a cinder block build method. You will be able to pick out whatever veneer you like to finish the structure. By the end of the build, you’ll be high-fiving your family and friends. Then it’s time to get ready to enjoy the warmth of a raging fire on a cool night.

If you’re looking for more information and pics, or just some more inspiration, check out our Instagram profile, “backyardflare”, and our Pinterest profile, “DIY Outdoor”. We know you’ll find something that will look great in your backyard. Let us know how we can help you succeed and how to save thousands at the same time.

When you’re ready to get your plan, go to Backyard Flare, and pick out your favorite design. Once you purchase it, you will receive it in PDF directly to your email. We strive to serve you and to make sure your building experience is the best it can be. Let us show you the reality to outdoor comfort. Call or text me (Dan) direct at 520-269-9740 if you want a free consult. I’ll be waiting.

DIY Fireplace Plans

outdoor fireplace on a pool deck with a hot tub and outdoor furniture — Gorgeous DIY outdoor fireplace built by a homeowner using our construction plan

I love phone calls

I love the fact that we have helped lots of DIYers with DIY fireplace plans. We also love to hear feedback from our customers. The other day I answered my phone and began speaking with a past customer who built a Pima II fireplace design. Karen explained that she had received some bids from contractors to build an outdoor fireplace in her backyard and was blown away at the price tag. She wasn’t prepared to pay what was bid.

Karen elected at that point to start looking for assistance. She stumbled on Backyard Flare’s website while searching for “DIY fireplace plans”. After reviewing our designs, Karen said she picked the Pima II because of the large firebox and the low rough materials cost.

backyard outdoor DIY fireplace built on patio with travertine and stucco finish. — Inexpensive DIY outdoor Pima II fireplace built by a homeowner, stucco and travertine covered with a wooden mantel and lighting

I listened as she told me about her building experience and about how much fun and how fulfilling it was to complete the construction by her and her family. She said that she never thought she could build a DIY fireplace on her own…that was until she discovered our plans.

I was happy to get that phone call because it solidified what we have known for years. We design our fireplaces for the customers that don’t have a ton of masonry building experience. Some don’t have any at all. Our simplistic build plans cater to the DIY homeowners that want to step into a DIY project. They may need just a little bit of instruction to get started.

Get started on your project

We know that you have what it takes to build one too and we are eager to hear about your backyard and your plans to transform it. Text Dan at 520-269-9740 and let’s discuss your design ideas. Let’s talk and know that it’s free, and with no obligation.

Take care and happy building to you. It’s time to get started!!! Go to Backyard Flare to pick your favorite design.

Outdoor Fireplace Construction Plan

What does your dream backyard look like?

DIY outdoor fireplace TV pergola — DIY homeowner built outdoor fireplace with storage voids and mounted TV.

With so many people wanting to spruce up their backyards, why not build an outdoor fireplace? Backyard Flare specializes in helping our clients, DIY homeowners just like you, with an easy and comprehensive method of building. We do this with our DIY outdoor fireplace construction plans. Every picture in this article is an example of fireplaces built entirely by DIY homeowners who used Backyard Flare DIY outdoor fireplace construction plans.

DIY outdoor fireplace built by a homeowner in a corner under a patio cover. This is surrounded by chairs and is poolside. — DIY homeowner built, poolside corner fireplace under a patio cover with a TV

So much goes into the planning and design of an outdoor fireplace, so trying to figure it out and hoping it functions at the end is not the way to proceed. There are lots of great designs and themes and we are confident we have designed one that would look great in your backyard. We have helped thousands of homeowners with their outdoor fireplace construction plans, and they have made us proud with the results they have achieved.

How much can you really save?

You will have fun while building and at the same time, you’ll be adding huge monetary value to your home. If you could build an outdoor fireplace in your backyard for $1,000 but get an additional $5k-$10k fo ryour home when you sell it why wouldn’t you do it? We have heard from many customers that their DIY outdoor fireplace was the reason their house sold. That makes us feel pretty good.

Cinder block construction outdoor fireplace and outdoor kitchen under construction in a backyard. This fireplace is surrounded by chairs and is under trees. — DIY outdoor fireplace and grill structure being built by a homeowner

The only two additional things not covered in our outdoor fireplace construction plans are directions on how to pour the foundation and what to cover the outside of the structure with. There are too many variables to the thickness of your foundation and we don’t want to dictate what the final structure will look like. That’s the fun part, figuring out a great veneer.

How’d We Do?

So, we hope you have been inspired to build your own DIY outdoor fireplace and that our construction plans will be used to guide you through the build process. We know they will not lead you astray. Let us know if you have any questions about our designs or the build process. Check out www.backyardflare.com for more info and inspiration.

As we always say here at Backyard Flare, LLC, happy building.

Dan Heston
Backyard Flare, LLC
Tucson, Arizona
520-269-9740

Backyard Lighting

Outdoor lighting on DIY outdoor fireplace at night — Beautify your DIY outdoor fireplace with lighting.

There are many ways to install backyard lighting in your outdoor space. In this quick tutorial, we’d like to specifically go over our method of installing low voltage lighting in a outdoor fireplace structure. We are currently building an amazing DIY outdoor fireplace at my in-law’s house in Marana, Arizona, a suburb of Tucson, and it is turning out beautiful. To include that “extra something”, we made sure to add a little lighting to the fireplace, so it really shows off the structure at night. Backyard lighting makes the world of difference when added tastefully. Just a little goes a long way.

Bring Your Backyard To Life

Even when we aren’t enjoying the warmth of a fire, we want to be able to look out the window into the backyard and see the fireplace, and the lighting will really make that happen. The backyard lighting also gives off enough ambient light, so the backyard isn’t completely dark. We want to be able to go outside and walk around the backyard at night without having to turn on all the exterior patio lights.

Lowes? Yep…They’re Everywhere

Here at Backyard Flare, we love to shop at Lowes Home Improvement because they have so much variety in their departments. Follow them on Instagram at @loweshomeimprovement for great pics and design ideas. For the lighting on our structure, we ventured to the outdoor lighting aisle and we picked up a Hampton Bay 150W transformer, a 100-foot spool of low voltage lighting cord, and six Hampton Bay LED lights. The total was about $125, but you’ll see that it was worth every penny.

Backyard Lighting Installation

So, let’s get into the installation method. To understand low voltage lighting, it is important to know that it’s like powering a light bulb with a battery. A transformer will plug into a wall outlet, but the alternating current from the outlet will be converted in the transformer to direct current, like a battery. The 100-foot power cord is attached to the back of the transformer like you would attach speaker cord to a receiver, only a screw driver is used after the ends of the wires are stripped.

We routed the cord to the structure, and it entered on the back-left side. We ran it through the structure, cutting grooves into the tops of the cinder blocks for channels where necessary. The cord ran everywhere we wanted lights, and then it exited the back-right side of the fireplace.

Light Positioning

Low voltage lighting cord in a DIY outdoor fireplace. LED lighting and cinder block — Run the power cord through the structure by cutting grooves into the block.

Once we figured out exactly where we wanted the lights, we used a 3/8” masonry drill bit and drilled holes big enough to pass the LED light connector through the block. Inside the block, the lights’ push pin connectors were attached to the power cord and… we had light. The lights were attached to the front of the structure using wall anchors in the block. To install the wall anchors, we drilled more holes using a ¼” masonry drill bit. It’s just like adding them to drywall, but with a little bit more dust.

We made sure to add a light on the inside of each storage void too so the voids would be back-lit. It added a lot of appeal to the look of the structure and sure made a huge impact at night. The addition of light to an outdoor fireplace or kitchen is super simple and we know that you can do it. We sure hope this helped you out and that it eased your hesitation to add lighting to your structure or backyard. If you’re interested in building your own DIY outdoor fireplace or outdoor kitchen, visit us at Backyard Flare for the best and most comprehensive outdoor construction plans on the market.

Show Us What Your Lighting

We would love to see some of your outdoor lighting. Please send pics of your projects to dan@backyardflare.com. Thanks for reading, and I hope you learned something here. Until next time, have fun on your outdoor projects and happy building.

Dan Heston
Backyard Flare, LLC
Tucson, Arizona
www.backyardflare.com
www.diyoutdoorfireplaces.com
520-269-9740

3 Ways to Improve Your Backyard

Check Out Your Backyard

Okay, so the weather is improving right? Well, at least in a lot of areas it is. It will be time for some outdoor attention at your house. Your backyard and even your front yard will be begging for some kindness, and there are a few things you can do to make it look fantastic. Here are three things you can do to add appeal to your outdoor space.

Let’s Get Busy

Clean up the clutter and dirt. I can’t stress this enough. Clutter and stuff laying around makes a space look messy. Whether the clutter is toys, yard tools, or just a pile of pool towels, picking it up and putting it away will make a huge impact. That’s where I always start. I address the easy stuff first. Now you’ll be able to address the horizontal surfaces of the backyard, the patio, a table top, etc. Get a wet rag and wipe off. Step one finished.
Trim your bushes and trees. I have a palm tree and a lemon tree in the back corners of my backyard. At times, the palm tree will have one or two hanging down and they will be starting to dry and turn brown. These low hanging nuisances are easily trimmed with a pole saw and it changes the look drastically. This palm stands like royalty behind my swimming pool waterfall, so when it looks trimmed and tidy, it makes a huge difference. The lemon tree blooms constantly here in Arizona, so we have to cut off branches that almost touch the ground under the weight of the fruit. We pick the lemons and then trim some of these low hanging branches, transforming the underside of the tree. Step two finished.
Pick your weeds. Here in Arizona and in many areas in the southwest, we have rocks in our backyards. I guess you can say we don’t really have yards as most would define them…grass. When the rainy season arrives, I swear my neighbor throws handfuls of weed seeds over the wall, while snickering like the Grinch. Then he waits until the weeds grow and laughs as I address the problem. By picking weeds, I get back to the clean and organized look of a rocked backyard space. It’s amazing how much better it looks. Step three finished.

Now Get Started

By doing these three simple things, I get my backyard to a clean, organized, and welcoming oasis, worthy of a party. The beauty is that it doesn’t cost me anything other than a bit of sweat equity to transform my backyard. Perform this three-step ritual a few times a year and your backyard will continue to impress all who venture there.

Hopefully You’re Inspired

We hope you will use these quick and easy steps to work on your outdoor backyard presence. Send us before and after pictures of your outdoor space, cluttered and then clean. We would love to share in a separate blog post how our readers are making their backyards an extension of their home lives. Send pics and your story to dan@backyardflare.com and thanks for reading and we hope to hear from you.

Dan Heston
Backyard Flare, LLC

DIY Outdoor Fireplace Update – Tucson

Our DIY Fireplace Customers Rock!

Backyard Flare DIY fireplace customers are everywhere. We don’t just cater to the Tucson, Arizona area for our customer base. Our amazing customers are in warm, cool, and even frigid areas. In fact, they are all over the country and even abroad.

Cold is Upon Us

But, the cold weather is here and the country in a lot of places is already under a blanket of white. Oh my gosh, and it’s only just November, so there are a few months of cold left. Because of the weather, a good portion of the U.S. is unable to build in their backyards. There is no possibility of digging into the frozen rock-hard ground for the concrete slab foundation. There is no way to add water to mortar to lay blocks because it would be so unbearable to work with icy hands in that environment. You get the point. Some of you will have to wait, sorry.

It is great that we have a customer right down the street from Backyard Flare headquarters. Rob in Tucson found Backyard Flare online and contacted us for help building his outdoor DIY fireplace. When Rob realized we were right down the street, he asked for design help. I spoke with Rob and he introduced me to his backyard. He wanted a corner fireplace with gas and together we brainstormed some cool outdoor fireplace layouts. Rob decided to use the Douglas Mini design and morph it a bit to match his and his wife’s vision.

And the Process BEGAN

diy outdoor fireplace douglas mini propane gas lighting cinderblock fire mountain arizona — Rob’s DIY fireplace is visible from the driveway.

Rob started with his DIY fireplace and he had a lot of questions. All in all, he has done a fantastic job and I have visited his work site a few times to check in with him. As a husband, father of two small tykes, and a professional from Monday through Friday, Rob doesn’t have a lot of time during the week to work. He has spent the weekends building and has rocked the progress. It has taken him a couple months, but he can see that completion is close.

DIY Rob is Doing Great

I went to see Rob’s DIY fireplace the other day again and it looks great. Rob is ready for firebrick, horizontal material, and his veneer. At that point he will be done. We hope you love it as much as we do with the gas setup, arched firebox, and the LED lighting he added. He told us he has never built with mortar and was skeptical as to his abilities, but he was happy he did it. He learned a lot and he realized that he was a lot more capable than he thought, especially with his construction plan from Backyard Flare.

We will continue to bring you photos of his progress and we will definitely feature Rob and his finished fireplace in an upcoming blog post. If you think you are ready to step into a DIY outdoor fireplace build, like Rob, and are ready to transform your backyard, visit Backyard Flare and we can help. We know that you can do it, and, just like Rob, you just need a DIY construction plan to follow.

We Are Here For You Too

If you have any questions about anything, please let me know. I am always excited to hear from a fellow DIYer, or someone wanting to learn more about how to beautify their backyard space with a DIY fireplace. I can be reached at dan@backyardflare.com and as I always say, “Happy Building”.

Dan