If you are planning a new deck and considering ways to make your space more beautiful and usable, an outdoor fireplace could be the answer.
What’s not to love about an outdoor fireplace? A fireplace can improve the aesthetics of any outdoor living design. A fireplace will also provide warmth and ambiance for outdoor enjoyment when the weather is cool. How do you know if your new deck design is right for an outdoor fire feature?
Lee’s Summit MO deck with outdoor fireplace
What decisions must be made for your deck fireplace?
Each municipality will have code compliance requirements for outdoor fireplaces. The Archadeck of Kansas City design team will work on your behalf to ensure that your outdoor living design meets or exceeds local codes. Some considerations for including a fireplace on your deck will be choosing the type of fireplace. Your choices are traditional wood-burning, gas-burning, or electric. While a wood-burning fireplace might be possible for your deck, you must consider the additional requirements. First, is a taller, functional chimney. Second to that is wood storage and clean-up – ash, wood debris, and the potential for floating embers while in use will all weigh into your final decision. If you are looking for a tidier, albeit less traditional option, a gas-burning fireplace or electric unit will be very accommodating. Gas fireplaces require hooking up to your existing gas utility, or perhaps a standalone propane tank, depending on your specific needs. Electric units will provide ambiance, but little warmth. Next to choosing your type of fireplace, will be the location. Code might dictate a particular distance from your home, or even a specific distance from branches or shrubs outside your deck.
Gas-burning fireplace on composite deck
Can you put a fire pit on your deck?
If you are looking for a less expensive option for including a fire feature on your deck, you might opt for a gas-burning fire pit instead. Fire pits can be just as usable as an outdoor fireplace and add beauty and ambiance in their own way. Many homeowners choose a fire pit over a fireplace, so they can have their family and friends gather around the open flame. Similar code requirements to fireplaces might dictate your deck fire pit installation, as per placement and installing and hooking up gas lines.
Composite deck with gas-burning fire pit
Alternately, you can choose a store-bought fire table or portable fire pit, which you place on your deck after we build it, like these Olathe Kansas clients did.
Olathe Kansas deck with fire table.
Can you have a fireplace on a covered or screened in deck?
Yes, you can have an outdoor fireplace on your covered deck or screened-in deck or porch. Archadeck of Kansas City builds many covered and screened spaces that include an outdoor fireplace. These spaces are ultimately stylish and usable and are some of the most popular custom outdoor designs we create.
Screened-in, covered deck with outdoor fireplace
Is there a better way to heat my covered deck?
More recently, our clients are choosing additional heating for their screened and covered spaces by way of installed radiant heating units. This has become a very popular and practical for heating outdoor spaces in cold weather – a heating upgrade, even over an outdoor fireplace!
Prairie Village KS covered deck with radiant heating
Are you ready to discuss a custom deck design for your Kansas City area home? Choose Archadeck of Kansas City, trusted local deck builder since 2001. Get in touch with our award-winning Design Consultants for a custom consultation by calling 913-851-3325 or emailing kansascity@archadeck.net.
