DIY Outdoor Kitchen Build

Getting Started

Well, this 2020 spring sure snuck up on us. Down here in the southwest, the temps are getting into the 70s already in March, so we are looking at some DIY projects. We have decided that an DIY outdoor kitchen is what my father-in-law’s backyard needs. He’s super excited and we started talking and discussing the build and what we would want in the structure.

DIY Outdoor Kitchen with Charcoal Grill — Getting started with the excavation.

We have a few hundred square feet to work with, so we have some different shapes and configurations available to us. There is a gorgeous mountain view to our east, so we definitely want to keep that on our mind when we design the layout.

Initial Thoughts

First and foremost, my father-in-law loves to cook on charcoal, so we are headed in that direction with the grill. We picked out a Char-Broil brand structure that we’ll modify to fit the space. That’s a real cool way to build and very economical, so we’ll be getting into that in some future posts. Secondly, we are looking to match the exterior of the outdoor fireplace that we built last year on the opposite side of the backyard. In order to do that, we’ll be putting stucco and outdoor lighting on our DIY outdoor kitchen, with flagstone as our counter material. By using the same finish material on the grill and fireplace, it’ll look like we built both structures at the same time and the overall look of the backyard will look well thought out.

We decided that a raised bar area would be a nice addition to the DIY outdoor kitchen, so the structure will have to be big enough to accommodate that extra feature. An “L” shape is something we feel will work so the guests sitting at the bar will have the mountain view to look at while they talk to the grill chef and enjoy their favorite beverage.

Starting the Construction

We staked out the rough dimension of the “L” shape grill and then started figuring out the level of the future concrete slab. This is important so our patio pavers are the same height of the patio to the house. The excavation of the site started with a quick dig out of the slab dimension.

Using a really long level, 6-footer, we laid out random pavers from the existing patio to the farthest side of the DIY outdoor kitchen structure. This would tell us how much digging we would need to do to get it uniform and level.

Drawing and Block Count/Order

Dan at Backyard Flare drew up the grill structure using CAD and concept and then used the drawing to calculate the type of blocks and exact number of each block needed. Dan figured the mortar and concrete need as well, and then called Lowes to place the order for delivery. The best part is that almost all the building materials and even the grill will be delivered right to the side of the house, which is where the gate is located leading to the backyard. The materials purchased, including the $75 delivery fee, was only $505, and that included the grill. Wow, how much more economical can it get?

Follow along on our future posts as we build. You’ll be amazed at how easy and inexpensive it can actually be to build on your own. The DIY world is yours to explore and we can help. If you’re interested in building your own backyard paradise, let us know how we can help. Get your construction plan today and begin building your DIY outdoor kitchen tomorrow. Happy building.

Fireplace and Pizza Oven Review – Tucson

Fireplace and Pizza Oven Awesomeness

fireplace pizza oven granite flagstone gas fire patio cover pergola heater veneer diy — Relaxing by the DIY gas fireplace during a dinner party.

The other day, my wife and I attended a dinner party at the home of a previous fireplace and pizza oven customer. We were able to spend some time outside enjoying the fireplace and just the awesomeness of the backyard. Homeowner Tom helped me build this structure, so this is technically a DIY build in a sense. Tom learned a lot and he was able to add lots of great value while we had a blast constructing his masterpiece.

Massive Structure Size

There is so much to his fireplace and pizza oven structure. To get started, the whole circular structure is a whopping 31 feet in diameter. It’s massive to say the least. It surrounds a seven-foot-wide natural gas fireplace. Inside the four-foot-wide firebox is an “H” pipe covered with bright red fire glass. The fire glass color is great because, if you look closely at the picture, it turns blueish purple when it heats up. Such a great look.

The front of the fireplace is covered with a great stone veneer and the remainder of the structure was stuccoed to match the texture on Tom’s house. The seating is all smoothed flagstone cut to match the curvature of the seat back wall. On the hearth, there are several low voltage lights that add that extra something. It looks amazing every night, whether there is a fire blazing away or not.

Pizza Anyone?

The left side of the structure holds the pizza oven built around a BrickWood Ovens DIY mold. It didn’t get any easier than that mold to build around and then wait until the mortar cured. The pizza oven is covered in stucco that is painted the same color as the rest of the structure.

To the left side of the pizza oven, we added a piece of polished granite, so Tom could roll out his pizza dough and prepare his pizzas. No need to run into the house every time, the counter is right there. Seeing how much Tom and his family has used the fireplace and pizza oven makes me smile that they are building lots of great memories. The parties with family and friends are a lot of fun and the quiet nights in front of the fire are special for them too.

Check us Out

If the idea of a fireplace and pizza oven sounds like something you would want to step into, there is a great place to go, Backyard Flare. You can look through the great design ideas and also figure out what you want in your backyard. Big or small, every fireplace structure looks great. We want you to begin living in your backyard again. What better way to start than by building your own fireplace and pizza oven?

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. You can certainly do it yourself and beautify your backyard space. I can be reached at dan@backyardflare.com and as I always say, “Happy Building”.

Dan

IT’S ALMOST CHRISTMAS

Baby It’s Cold Outside… In Some Places, Outdoor Fireplace Time

DIY outdoor fireplace snow pima trees — Gotta dig a path to enjoy a fire!

Hey all you DIYer’s, are you looking forward to Christmas and the colder temps? We sure are down here in Arizona. We know we’re a bit spoiled though with the highs in the 60s still. So much of the country is getting blanketed in snow and ice already, which makes us cringe at the thought of power losses and snow shoveling. We came from that sort of weather so we know what some of you are experiencing. You’ll get through it though, we’re confident of that. Enter the DIY outdoor fireplace and outdoor kitchen possibility. These are great Christmas ideas.

Douglas DIY outdoor fireplace snow pine patio backyard — Is this snow blanket going to keep the fireplace warm?

Your Christmas Ideas Wish List?

Christmas and the season of giving always brings about the challenges of traffic, shopping, and figuring out what to tell your loved ones to buy for you. This year, when you sit on Santa’s lap at the mall, tell him you want to build your own DIY outdoor fireplace or outdoor kitchen. He’ll know what to do.

Pima DIY outdoor fireplace fire christmas decorate wreath vase — What a warm feeling we get from this fireplace. Crackling fire and warm toes.

Santa will go online and he’ll visit www.backyardflare.com for great outdoor fireplace and outdoor kitchen design ideas. He’ll pick out the perfect design for your backyard and he’ll surprise you with your very own DIY construction plan. You’ll be able to get started on your backyard renovation.

Douglas DIY outdoor fireplace fire Adirondack log wreath patio backyard — Anyone care for a blanket and a beverage?

If you are not planning on sitting on Santa’s lap, just tell that special someone in your life that you want a DIY outdoor fireplace or outdoor kitchen in your backyard. Tell them about Backyard Flare and that they are the only place to go for DIY construction plans. What a gift for someone you love or to yourself for that matter! Christmas ideas are everywhere but most don’t last a lifetime like an outdoor fireplace or outdoor kitchen will.

DIY outdoor fireplace fire wreath christmas light flower vase candle — How welcoming is this fireplace? They are so pretty when they are decorated for the holidays.

Call Us

And did we say that you can always call and talk to Dan from Backyard Flare for FREE? Yep, he loves to talk “masonry” and “backyards”. He spends time each day talking with homeowners about design ideas for their outdoor space, and he helps them manage their masonry fears.

Thanks for making Backyard Flare the one stop shop for the best DIY outdoor fireplace and kitchen construction plans. It’s DIYer’s like you that make us feel special. Have a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful Christmas.

We hope to hear from you and as always… happy building.

DIY Outdoor Fireplace Built for Cheap

CAN I BUILD MY OWN DIY OUTDOOR FIREPLACE?

If you’ve gotten as far as thinking you want an outdoor backyard fireplace, then the next obvious thought should be on the construction method. To lay it out as simply as possible, either you build it yourself or a contractor builds it for you. And I’m not talking about a prefabricated fireplace where you stack a few pieces and have a fire an hour later. I’m talking about a permanent cinderblock structure with all the amenities such as seating, shelving, lighting, veneer, firewood storage, etc… Frankly a DIY outdoor fireplace can be built for cheap.

Realistic Contractor Concerns

DIY douglas outdoor fireplace decor — Great DIY corner designed fireplace all decorated and ready for a party.

When you elect to have someone else build your fireplace, you will pay for two specific things. They are materials and labor, the latter of which will be most of your cost. Is it easier to have someone else sweat while lifting block and splattering mortar? Absolutely, but you must then step back and look at the alternative. You! Have you given much thought to building your own fireplace? If the answer is no or even maybe, let me give you some things to mull over. Just one of them may sway you or the entire list may persuade you that a DIY project may be the way to go.

First off, let’s look at the project as a whole. Building on a large scale with construction plans can be very enjoyable and rewarding. Think of it as stepping out on a new adventure with a lot of the guesswork taken out because of the plans you hold in your hand.

Some of us have a small perfectionist attitude making it difficult to sit back and watch someone build something for us, knowing we would do it differently. I want to build to my taste; with my ideas in mind. Contractors, many times, provide building crews that are only interested in getting done in order to move on to the next project. In the end, it’s all about cash flow. Do they care about the final look of something they may never see again, but that you will have to look at everyday for quite some time? Maybe, however, I prefer complete control of my projects and how they’re built. That’s why I love DIY and that’s why I always try to persuade others to jump on the DIY train. It’s a fun train.

It may seem small, but you also need to consider whether you will want contractor building crews in your backyard all day for the duration of your project. They always seem to show up too early or not at all. Then there’s the problem with the mess that is always left each day.

Think About a DIY Project

Pima DIY outdoor fireplace LG Green Egg kitchen grill — DIY Pima II fireplace with a great outdoor kitchen attached.

When you build yourself, you control the pace of the project. Some DIY warriors can complete a fireplace project in as few as 9-10 days while still holding down a job. Others will spend a few weeks to construct their fireplace working only a couple hours here and there. When you build, it’s up to you how you structure your timeline.

If the previous reasons haven’t convinced you to build your own fireplace then think about the money you could save by not soliciting the services of a contractor. As mentioned before, most of your cost with a contractor will be for labor. It is estimated that you can take the total cost of your materials and multiply it by 5-6 to give you an approximate labor cost. With this example, if you were to spend a total of $1,000 for materials, then the labor could cost as much as $5,000-$6,000, for a grand total of $6,000-$7,000 for a completed fireplace. That’s expensive!

Not only are you paying for labor, but at times the contractor will make money on materials too. In other words, they will charge you more for each block than what it will cost for you to go to your own home improvement store to buy them. You’ll only know that though if they provide you with an itemized list of materials and labor broken down.

Nothing is set in stone with how fireplaces have to be built, or even how much you have to pay. The truth is, however, that you will save money if you step out on faith and build your own outdoor fireplace. Think about how you’ll feel when you finish your own DIY outdoor fireplace project, knowing that you could have spent so much more.

Look No Further Than Backyard Flare

If you’re looking for assistance in the form of DIY outdoor fireplace construction plans, please visit Backyard Flare, LLC at www.backyardflare.com. We have many fireplace designs that we’re sure would look great in your outdoor living space. We would love the opportunity to work with you to make your backyard the talk of the neighborhood. We’ll give you the knowledge needed and be there for you along the way. Thank you for reading and we hope to hear from you.

As we always say …happy building.

Please follow us on Instagram and Facebook, as we have lots of cool DIY outdoor fireplace photos and videos added almost every day. Contact Dan with any questions.

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

Five Ways to Make a Beautiful Backyard

There are so many ways to make a beautiful backyard and so many different things to make it a ‘one of a kind’. If a backyard was just a standard layout and everyone did the same thing, where would the fun be? For as long as people have been living in houses, they have strived to create outdoor living spaces full of functionality and beauty. Backyard popularity and the drive to create the perfect outdoor space has always been there, and I feel the things to build, construct, and add are more abundant now than ever. So many options and so little time. Here is Backyard Flare’s list of ‘Five Ways to Make a Beautiful Backyard’.

Outdoor Fireplace

First and foremost, we love outdoor fireplaces and bang for your buck, they are amazing. They seem to be the one thing outdoors that will bring you a massive return on your investment. What you may spend a few hundred dollars on could gain thousands in return at time of sale. Outdoor fireplaces are our bread and butter and it’s what we think about day and night. We are always talking to DIY homeowners about different layout possibilities and available building footprints. It seems like people are building fireplaces in spaces small and large. Even places that seem to not work for a fireplace, people seem to build in.

Now, you don’t have to build a massive structure to have it be the focal point. If you position your fireplace in a way that the flame is visible from inside your house, it becomes a very cool feature in that you can build a fire for ambiance. It’s so peaceful to have a fire crackling and you don’t even have to be sitting next to it to enjoy it.

Outdoor Kitchen

Holy cow, who doesn’t like to grill? I don’t know anyone right off the top of my head. Most homeowners will have a small Weber grill or a cheap standalone grill on their back patio. Over time, it will probably be in a state of rust and full of cobwebs. It’s probably because the backyard wasn’t welcoming. It wasn’t a place where the homeowners wanted to spend their time. Ah, but build a nice outdoor kitchen and it becomes a destination… a “cooking” destination.

beautiful backyard — Outdoor kitchen with black granite countertop.

Adding an outdoor kitchen, can be as simple as encasing your existing standalone grill, with countertop to the sides. More extravagant structures may have a raised bar area with stools, a refrigerator, a sink, or even a pizza oven added. The possibilities are endless and will de

pend on how much room you have to work with. The layout could be rectangular, built like an “L” shape, or even a “U” shape. Drop in grills can be purchased for reasonable costs if you look around enough, and you can opt for propane or natural gas. Building a sunken pit into your structure could even accommodate the use of charcoal, which in our opinion tastes wonderful.

Outdoor Lighting

Spend some time looking into your backyard at night and think about where you would add low voltage lighting. Adding a transformer and some perimeter lights in the yard can add a lot of character. Upward lighting on trees and bushes can add visual depth that all but fades away at night.

Outdoor lighting fireplace beautiful backyard — Lighting along the front of a fireplace hearth.

If you add the lighting to a structure such as a fireplace or outdoor kitchen, you will bring those structures to a focal point. Many homeowners will incorporate lighting throughout their entire yard and through structures, having it illuminate all at the same time. This is a really elegant look.

Lighting outdoor kitchen beautiful backyard — Lighting brings out the beauty at night on the outdoor kitchen.

Potted Plants

Potted plant beautiful backyard — Colorful flowers in a white potted and textured pot.

The right pot or three with colorful flowering plants puts the finishing touch on many backyards. The flowers provide a visual pop of color not usually found anywhere else in a backyard. With colorful pots or textured pots, you can add lots of cool looks. Change the flowers each season for different colors or type of plants. If you add a drip line into the pot, you’ll be able to minimize the maintenance time and possibly forgetting to water the plants. They don’t tend to live very long if they don’t get water.

Shaded Seating

Adirondack chair beautiful backyard — Comfy Adirondack chairs begging for usage.

Last on our short list for a beautiful backyard but not even close to being the least important, add some shaded seating to your outdoor space. On cool mornings, I will grab a cup of coffee and sit in my Adirondack chair with my feet propped up. This chair lives under my patio cover, adding lots of protection from sun fading. When I want to venture out from the confines of the patio cover, I can relax in one of my teal colored padded chairs. The rectangular shaped glass table sports a teal colored umbrella providing great sun protection for most of the day.

Outdoor chair beautiful backyard — Teal padded chairs and umbrella around glass table.

Just adding a few different places to sit comfortably in your backyard will offer the look of a welcoming area.

Over time, with these few things added or built in your backyard, you will have transformed your outdoor space and you will hopefully have a beautiful backyard that begs for usage. Lots of usage. And who knows, maybe you’ll add all five recommendations, completely renovating it to the envy of all your neighbors.

If you have any questions about any of the suggestions, or if you want to build an outdoor kitchen and/or outdoor fireplace, visit www.backyardflare.com. We’ll help you with your project and provide you with a very comprehensive DIY construction plan. Most if not all the guesswork will be gone.

The Perfect S’more

Is there a day that goes by where you don’t contemplate the perfect S’more or the ingredients that it takes to construct one? I don’t think so, as these quandaries are what keep lots of people up at night. I often lie there for hours at a time, beads of sweat collecting on my forehead, while I count marshmallows and small squares of chocolate. Did I break the graham cracker perfectly, so the two sides are equal? Is the marshmallow gooey enough? The perfect S’more…oh my…so much to consider.

Funny to think about, and “no” I really don’t drive myself into crazed sleeplessness over something as simple as a S’more. Having said that, I thought this would be an amusing blog post to write about how to build the perfect S’more and to get some feedback on what constitutes your perfect S’more.

So Many Questions

What is the perfect roast level of the marshmallow? How much chocolate is necessary for these tasty and crunchy dessert sandwiches? These seem like crazy questions and an over analyzation of a simple sweet snack, but really think about what you do when you build the perfect S’more. You make a lot of micro decisions when you are in the S’more frame of mind.

Marshmallow on a stick — Marshmallow on a Stick

You will usually impale a helpless marshmallow on a skewer or metal stick and hold it over the open flame without mercy. The question lies; however, do you hold it just outside the flame or catch it on fire? Do you require a golden brown slow roast, or do you prefer the stick mounted flaming marshmallow ball like a torch used by Indiana Jones? How long do you let the marshmallow burn before you blow out the flame? Is there a point when too much burn is too much, and intending to start over, you resort to flinging the sticky mess off the stick for the dog to devour?

Do you prepare your graham cracker and chocolate before the marshmallow torture or do you yell at others in panic to get your cracker and chocolate ready? If you’re like most, you do the latter. You were so focused on the marshmallow torture and open flame that you “tunnel-visioned” yourself out of paying attention to the chocolatey crunchy portions of the sweet treat. Remember that your failure to prepare the cracker and chocolate should not constitute an emergency on the part of your family and friends.

S’more (Some More) Questions

Do you forget and leave the graham crackers open, so the dog gets into them, “Pavlov Dog Style”? Do you viciously eat a good portion of the chocolate beforehand, and then realize that there may not be enough to go around? Are you the one that puts the hot and sticky marshmallow skewer down on the chair in haste not realizing that it will glue itself to the seat cushion?

With so many things to consider, should we as humans even be stepping into the tough decisions necessary to build the perfect S’more? Is it better done as a team event? This blog post has not done anything except make me hungry for a S’more and nervously anxious at the thought of building one. I hope the next time you decide to make the perfect S’mores that you talk it over first with your guests. Think about logistics and have a game plan before indulging in such glorious delicacies.

Or just have fun. S’mores are a great way to share memories with family and friends. Leave a comment and let us know some of your S’more memories or thoughts. We’d love to hear them.

Build Your Own Marshmallow Fireplace

Please visit www.backyardflare.com if you are interested in a DIY fireplace or outdoor kitchen construction plan. They are perfect places to build a fire necessary for your marshmallow torture. Thanks for reading, and as always…happy building.

Dan

Vintage and New Outdoor Fireplaces – They’re Everywhere

outdoor stone fireplace, house is gone — What stories can this AZ fireplace tell?

Outdoor Fireplaces – What History Can They Tell?

I have been traveling quite a bit lately. Additionally, I have been fortunate enough to have gone to some really neat locations. Just a few visited in the past few months are Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Winterpark, Colorado, El Paso, Texas, and the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona. When I go to a new place, I love the opportunity to walk around and explore the old and new.

One thing that seems timeless is the fireplace built in an old house lot. They still stand, absent the house or an old cabin. I love walking around these towns and noticing great outdoor fireplaces built in new areas, at shopping malls, at apartment complexes, and even outdoor patios of fancy bars and restaurants.

Vintage Fireplace — Old fireplace in a WV city park

The old vintage stone fireplaces through their cracks and stains can sometimes tell a silent story, letting your mind wander at how much they have seen and been witness to over the passing years. Who graced the hearth and seating around these graceful structures? What conversations and decisions took place in front of the fire?

Imagine the fireplaces in the homes and parks of West Virginia that kept home owners and those fighting in the civil war warm. They used them every day during the harsh winters. Imagine the fireplaces in the Grand Canyon lodges that kept tourists warm during the 1930s when the park was really becoming a destination. Now those are old fireplaces with stories too abundant for us to even imagine.

How About the New?

Shopping center outdoor fireplace — Fireplace spotted in an AZ shopping center

But let’s think about how we can create our own memories and stories around an outdoor fireplace. When you spot an outdoor fireplace at an outdoor shopping center, stop and check it out. Sit on the hearth and if it is providing heat, enjoy it for a few minutes. Relax and even grab a drink if you have time. Become the history that can be told by that fireplace 100 years from now.

Pay attention to where you are and if you see an old or even a new fireplace that needs to be in a photograph, take a pic and send it to us at, dan@backyardflare.com. Let us know where and how you found it.

Thanks and as always, happy building!

Outdoor Fireplaces and Draft Problems

Outdoor Fireplace Draft

#outdoorfireplace, #backyardflare, #outdoorfireplacedesign — Gorgeous corner fireplace built along a custom patio. No soot stains means it was built correctly.

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.