Build an Outdoor Fireplace

Amy Matthews: Hard Escapes like patios, water features and retaining walls are always a good investment but for a dramatic statement it’s hard to bit an outdoor fireplace. If you’re interested in building an outdoor fireplace here are a few tips from the pros to help you out. First, mark the location and size of the fireplace.

Male: You want to build or locate your home viewing where is your home, your deck, your master bedroom and make sure that you can see this from everywhere in your house.

Male: I’ll start over here then.

Amy Matthews: Then dig a trench for a cement foundation. A plate compactor creates a hard surface for the foundation. They rent for about $70.00 a day. Next mix the cement and pour it in place. Allow the cement to cure for 24 hours then you can start building.

Male: On this particular fireplace we’re going to use cinderblocks.

Amy Matthews: At about $2.00 a square foot cinderblock is an inexpensive way to build the structure. For two inches of mortar onto the foundation and start setting the blocks, mortar is spread in between each row. Be sure to check for level and adjust with more or less mortar. For larger structures it’s best to higher a stone mates to be sure your fireplace won’t collapse. Once the cinderblocks are in place and allow it to set overnight you can start adding a stone veneer which shows cultured stone for about $6.00 per square foot?

Female: So what we’re going to do here we start with bottom course of bricks and you can either start in the center or you can start from the corners and workout.

Amy Matthews: And just like tiling use spacers to keep your stones from touching.

Female: You never want stones sitting on top of stones because things shift and move so this going to protect you from any movement in the deck causing some breaking going on here.

Amy Matthews: Mix more mortar then back butter each stone.

Female: Now push it in, give it a little bit a wiggle and then we’ll stick those rocks right underneath.

Amy Matthews: Finish the fireplace with a cap rock to add strength and to give finish look then install the log burner. When you’re done you’ll have an inviting outdoor living space that adds style and equity to your home.

If you make smart decisions and pick the right materials you can actually make money with increased equity by doing the work yourself. I’m Amy Matthews from DIY Network’s Sweat Equity.