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.
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.
My father in-law standing proud with his new outdoor kitchen.
Our DIY outdoor kitchen build began with some ground excavation and measuring for slab height as compared to the existing concrete patio. This was very important as we planned to add brick pavers from the patio to the base of the outdoor kitchen and we wanted it to match up perfectly. Once we determined the proper slab height, we built our wood forms, tamped and prepared the ground, added our steel mesh, and got to pouring the concrete.
Slab was poured in approximately 35 minutes
My father in law and I worked in tandem, with me mixing and pouring the concrete and him screeding the wet mix. Within 35 minutes, we had the concrete done and we waited for it to start setting up.
Two days later, we pulled the forms off and exposed a great looking L shaped slab that was waiting for some mortar and block. Once the block laying began, we worked for approximately 6 hours to complete the rough block build.
We mixed our N-type mortar in a mixing bin and got 15 blocks mortared in place with each 60-lb bag. This is how much you can generally get done if you don’t waste or lose too much mortar on the ground.
@charbroil grills are a great way to go for a great look and functionality
@Charbroil for Functionality
We dismantled a Char-Broil charcoal grill and built a base for the cooking system to sit on. The counter height was a standard 36″ and with a gorgeous flagstone, the raised bar and counter was finished. The outer edge of the flagstone was a very cool chisel cut for a rustic look.
Flagstone is a great counter and bar material
Finish Work – Stucco and LEDs
I applied stucco to the sides of the structure and painted it to match our previously built outdoor fireplace. We ran some low voltage lighting cord and added great looking LED lights for additional ambiance. We hoped to keep the outdoor kitchen build to a minimum and we ended up spending right at $1,000 total on the structure. This cost included the material, lights, counter, and even the grill. Amazing what you can do when you have a plan to follow. A DIY outdoor kitchen can be in your future.
Lighting is the best way to add a rich look
Let us know how we can help you with a DIY outdoor kitchen construction plan. It doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg so let us show you how to do it.
Hello all you DIYers and enthusiasts of backyard fireplace and transformation. I wanted to write a bit about one of our latest ventures, a corner Arizona outdoor fireplace with storage voids that I built at my in-law’s house in Arizona. The backyard isn’t huge, only about 30 feet deep from the back of the house to the back wall, so we decided to offset the fireplace in the corner to not block the mountain view.
Doesn’t Have to be Expensive!
The best
part of this whole build is that we really designed and built on a budget, building
as inexpensive as possible without substituting quality. In total, we spent just over $1,600, and that
included the poured concrete slab, lighting, and all finish work. It really is amazing at what you can build
and how cheap the overall cost can be when you enter the DIY world. So, let’s break it down.
The Backyard Fireplace Building Begins
Getting the slab poured is lots of fun. Use wire mesh or rebar in your concrete pour to add strength to the slab.Concrete is a dirty job but lots of fun at the same time.
We knew the footprint of the backyard fireplace so we worked with disturbing only that area. We excavated the site and prepared the ground for the concrete slab, using steel in the pour. Once the concrete cured for a few days, we began laying the block as per the construction plan, which showed literally where every block went. So easy! We established the entry point at the back of the structure for the low voltage lighting wire to come in and routed that wire through the structure.
We filled wooden jigs with concrete to create the arched lintels.
The storage
voids and firebox were arched and that was completed by building wood jigs,
supporting them in place, and pouring concrete into them to create the
lintels. The arches really made the
three openings come to life, so we are happy we made that decision.
Finish Work Decisions
Just an amazing night with family and friends.
When the rough
build was completed, we lined the firebox with firebrick in a stacked pattern to
change it up and covered the whole structure in smooth coat stucco. The stucco was then painted to match the
color of the house, so it tied everything in.
Almost all horizontal surfaces were covered in a gorgeous honey brown
flagstone that we chisel cut for a rustic edge.
The LED lighting was added to the front of the structure and inside each
storage void, where it was connected to the low voltage wire. We are so happy we made the decision to add
lights because it makes the whole structure come to life even when not in use.
Finished DIY outdoor backyard fireplace with painted stucco and brick patio
The patio spanning the front of our backyard fireplace was completed in a random pattern with colored concrete pavers. It sure made the whole sitting area complete, giving it a finished look. We have enjoyed the fireplace even through the summer with ambiance fires, so we’re not letting the warm nights slow us down. Sitting at a distance is the way we do it when it’s warm outside. Just make sure you and your guests have your drink of choice while you sit and relax.
Want to Build a Backyard Fireplace Too?
We hope you love our backyard fireplace and all of what we built as much as we do and that you are inspired to step into this as well. Backyard Flare, LLC is the leader in DIY outdoor fireplace construction plans. Whether you are an accomplished mason or someone who has NEVER worked with block and mortar, you can build our designs. Open the construction plan and begin building your own backyard fireplace. We are confident that you too can build a masterpiece, so get going on your design ideas.
How Much $$$ Can Be Saved?
Backyard Renovation Pricing
Backyard Flare is dedicated to helping our customers. We want you to have as much information as possible before you step into a backyard addition. We want you to understand backyard renovation pricing. One question I get quite often from inquisitive DIYers is how much money can be saved by not using a contractor to build an outdoor fireplace. With this question, there is no “one” answer and the savings, albeit a guarantee, cannot be exactly quantified. There are costs that will be a surety, such as labor, but each contractor bills a little bit different. There is no exact savings amount, other than saying a lot, unless you have an itemized quote from a contractor that you then compare to what you will spend.
Now let’s break this down a step further. Most contractors do an excellent job and I believe you will get your fireplace built if you choose to go the route of a contractor to get it done. I can’t step on the back-breaking work that they perform day in and day out. It’s a tiring business for sure and they definitely deserve a pat on the back and some kudos.
Backyard Renovation Pricing
Having said that, you may be wondering about how contractors bill for jobs. If you have elicited the work of a contractor for anything in the past, you will notice that some will give you a written estimate and others will come over and throw a monetary figure at you after looking at the building area for a few minutes.
A written estimate is better for you, provided it is broken down into independent materials and labor costs. This will tell you roughly what they think the materials will cost with their slight mark up. Most contractors will make a few dollars on materials as well, with the understanding that they had to go load them, deliver them, and then unload them at your worksite. It’s a lot of work so it’s an okay upcharge, I guess.
Tactics and More Tactics
The contractors that throw out a price with no explanation of materials and labor make me smile. These contractors are betting that you will jump at the offer and that you won’t throw up any objection. Long and short, they don’t want you to know the breakdown of the profit they are making. It’s okay to haggle and negotiate too. Remember, this is your backyard, and they will be working for you. You dictate whether they leave each day with trash all over the place and you will be watching them while they finish the build.
These two quotation methods from contractors drastically differ but both are widely used. Some that don’t write the job estimate are good at what they do and will provide a breakdown if asked to. Just remember that you will probably be a bit shocked at how much contractors will charge for labor. It will make up the majority of the quote. It’s a good living for company owners, believe me on that one.
So What Do You Do?
So, you have an option. Either go with a contractor or elect to try to build the fireplace with your own two hands. This is where the music is queued, and we emerge at the top of a hill with a DIY construction plan. We swoop down to your backyard and hand it to you, and then we stand off to the side, waiting for questions while you build. The trailer for the movie seems so awesome, but deep down we know that the movie will probably never be made. I guess we’ll stick to creating the construction plans and to our design work.
We Think DIY is the Best Build Decision
Enough already… we have more explanation to get back to. When you build yourself, the labor that contractors charge won’t be an issue. There won’t be a subtraction from your bank account for labor as you’ll be the labor force behind the entire build. This shouldn’t scare you either. We have had a lot of customers who have done amazing at building their own fireplaces and they have never worked with mortar or block.
Jason’s DIY Pima II outdoor fireplace is built and ready to go.
One such customer, Jason, sent us pictures of his DIY Pima II outdoor fireplace to share. After sharing them on our Instagram page, we asked him some pricing questions about his DIY build. Jason replied, “I got quotes for $7k-$9k to build this exact plan and I built it for $1,600-$1,800. Two easy weekends with my dad. It was super easy with your step by step guide. I’m a banker by trade so I’ve never done concrete block work ever.”
We’re so happy that Jason had a great experience and that’s an amazing savings of at least $5,200. That’s a lot of money still in Jason’s bank account and the best part is it sounds like he really had a good time with his dad while building the fireplace. Backyard renovation pricing wasn’t a big deal to Jason because he opted to save the money and pay sweat equity instead.
We’re Here to Help
Jason’s DIY Pima II outdoor fireplace is so inviting with a gorgeous fire.
Think about that when you contemplate your options. Building your own DIY outdoor fireplace doesn’t have to be stressful or worrisome. We have what you need to walk you through the process of a DIY outdoor fireplace. Visit us at www.backyardflare.com for great design ideas and information. We can help you with a great layout and will work with you personally to ensure you have the information you need to comfortably move forward in the DIY construction world. Build with one of our DIY construction plans and let us worry about the logistics of the design. You simply have fun and marvel at what your hard work. Thank you so much for reading and as always… happy building.
