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Outdoor Fireplaces: Choose one that’s right for you

Enjoy your outdoor area more with a metal fire pit or portable fireplace

A practical way to make best use of your backyard is to add an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. Apart from providing you with warmth and a lovely glow, a fireplace outside your home is the perfect place for family and friends to gather around and enjoy spending quality time together. After all, little else compares to keeping warm by a crackling fire on a chilly evening. At Overwrought Garden Art, we are seeing an increasing number of homeowners who are choosing our wrought iron fire pit or our portable outdoor wood fireplace for their garden or patio. Our high standard of quality, along with our in-house design and manufacturing processes mean our outdoor fireplaces combine the best of functionality and form.

Fire pit vs fireplace: Choosing the right one for your garden

When deciding between an outdoor fireplace vs a fire pit, there are a number of factors to think about in terms of which one is better for you and your space. These are five of the most essential considerations before making your decision and purchase.

Purpose

If your focus is on keeping warm, a fireplace is a more effective heat source than a fire pit. However, while a fire pit may not give off as much heat as a fireplace, the warmth that it does produce can be easily accessed by more people sitting or standing around it. The heat from a fireplace is better felt when you are directly in front of it.

Perspective

A fireplace should anchor the space, and become the focal point of your outdoor entertainment area. If you have amazing views of your garden or backyard, a fireplace may block those views but provide you with privacy from your neighbours. On the other hand, a fire pit is lower to the ground so it won’t block the view, making it ideal for spaces where privacy is not a priority.

Mood

A fireplace provides a more romantic or intimate setting, which is perfectly suited to a small group of people or a few couples at most. A fire pit does the total opposite by creating a more relaxed and informal atmosphere. It’s ideal for larger groups because everybody can gather around the pit and face each other when socialising, while the flames dance in the centre.

Safety

Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits shouldn’t become a safety hazard when they are properly monitored and maintained. However, a fireplace may be a much safer option for those with pets and young children as the risk of burns is greater with a fire pit. Make sure your family, friends and visitors are aware of the dangers and how to keep safe.

Cost

Fireplaces are more expensive than fire pits. If you’re on a budget or looking for an option that is more cost-effective for you in the long term, a metal fire pit is often the more affordable choice. These can also be installed and used straight away—there is no planning or building required beforehand, as there would be with a fireplace.

If you are still unsure about which type of outdoor fireplace is the better option for your lifestyle and space, you’re welcome to talk to us. We’ll be happy to provide all the information you need to help you make the right decision.

How much room do you need for an outdoor fireplace?

Before you can work out the amount of space you need, decide on the size of the fire pit you prefer. Once you know the size, the next step is to work out the seating around it. Put a placeholder, or draw a line with chalk on the ground where your fire pit will be placed. Then put chairs or other seating around the pit area, ensuring there is ample space to walk around it. Try to maintain a minimum of two metres of space all around the pit—it’s better to have too much space than too little. Also consider having some seating further away from the pit for those who get too hot, or become bothered by smoke.

Does an outdoor fireplace need to have fire bricks?

Fire bricks are made to withstand extreme temperatures from campfires and lining your fire pit with them will help ensure a high level of safety. Other materials such as stone, masonry bricks or compressed concrete may explode in high temperatures. Fire bricks are not always needed to build an outdoor fireplace though, an alternative option is a steel insert. Steel inserts are used to line fire pits too, and they are also designed to withstand extremely high temperatures. These perform the same function as fire bricks so if you use steel inserts, you won’t need to use fire bricks as well.

The benefits of a metal fire pit

1. Convenience and mobility

While we stock a wide range of fire rings for customers who prefer to dig their own fire pits, an all-in-one metal fire pit or a large garden brazier has become a more popular option in recent years. Part of the reason is because of their convenience. These fire pits require very little effort to assemble or set up, are easy to place almost anywhere and can be moved around your yard. We manufacture many different types of portable fireplaces, but one of our favourites is the portable tree fire pit, that can be easily disassembled. It can even be taken with you when you’re out camping!

2. Comfort and warmth

A metal garden fireplace is a good way to increase your outdoor relaxation. The evening is a great time to unwind and enjoy your patio or garden space, where a fire pit can be used all year round. A fireplace is also a fantastic way to add light and warmth to your environment and create a calm space in which you can relax after the sun goes down.

3. Style and decor

Fire pits today are attractive and have strong aesthetic appeal. At Overwrought Garden Art, our designers and metalworkers have crafted many unique designs and styles. Whether you are looking for a full fire pit or a simple garden brazier, we can help you find the perfect product. Our fire pits come in different sizes, so whatever the size of your backyard, you will be able to find a suitable outdoor fireplace.

Consider adding a privacy screen to enhance and complement the style of your entertainment area, and make it more versatile and comfortable without taking up extra space.

4. Extended lounge space

What’s better than having one lounge? Having another lounge, outdoors! If you love entertaining, an outdoor fire pit will create an additional social space in your backyard for family and friends. Add a sofa, or a bench with a few cushions, and you’ve got yourself a modern yet cost-effective home ‘extension’! Toast a few marshmallows, or host the next gathering at your home with confidence because there is plenty of comfort for everyone.

Metal fire pits and garden fireplaces from Overwrought Garden Art

There are numerous places from which to buy different types of outdoor fireplaces and outdoor fireplace kits, many of which promise similar quality and benefits. At Overwrought Garden Art, however, we offer something extra.

1. Quality metalworks

We use the highest grade of Australian materials to manufacture our products and all the designing, metalworking and manufacturing are done in-house. This results in premium quality fire pits, fire pokers and other metal products that are superior to many of the others on the market.

2. Support Australian

Many fire pits that you can buy locally or online are manufactured overseas and are of lesser quality and durability. Overwrought Garden Art is 100% Australian-owned-and-operated, and supports homegrown talent by employing Australian designers and metalworkers. Support us, and you are supporting the local economy. We repay your support by consistently crafting quality metal products that are built to last.

3. Innovative designs

Our creative and innovative designs speak for themselves. A fire pit is a hard-wearing product that can safely be used to enjoy an outdoor fire, but during daylight hours is essentially a decorative piece in your garden or patio. We craft unique designs that look as good in the daylight as they do at night when they are lit up by crackling flames.