Maintaining your Outdoor Fireplace

An outdoor fireplace is a great addition to any outdoor living space. It adds warmth and ambiance and can be a great place to hang a TV in your outdoor space. While a fireplace is nice and cozy it does require regular maintenance to function correctly and burn safely. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your outdoor fireplace is ready to perform in the cool weather for many years.

Inspection

Your outdoor fireplace should be inspected at least annually by a professional chimney sweep to ensure it is clean and safe for you and your family. A regular inspection will alert you to potential problems before they become serious. Your chimney sweep will let you know when you are in need of professional cleaning.

Cleaning

A clean fireplace is a safe fireplace. Not only does a clean fireplace look best, it also functions best. It’s tempting just to leave ashes and leftover wood in the fireplace between fires, but it’s best to remove the chunks and sweep the ashes once the fire is completely extinguished and cooled. Having a set of tools specifically used for fireplaces will speed this process along. Never use a vacuum cleaner, even a shop vac, to clean ashes as embers can stay hot for days and can reignite inside your vacuum.

Burn

While most people can start a fire, it is essential for the health of your fireplace to build the right kind of fire. Hardwoods are best for burning in your fireplace. They burn hotter, longer and cleaner. Learn to build efficient, clean burning fires. A fire that is inefficient is very smokey and makes the firebox and chimney dirty with flammable materials like soot and creosote.

Monitor

Between professional inspections it is important for you to regularly monitor the condition of your outdoor fireplace. Soot and creosote can build up inside the firebox and chimney and can make the fireplace very unsafe. If you don’t know how to recognize these build ups ask you chimney sweep to show you what to look for. If you notice a build up of soot and creosote in your fireplace have it cleaned before you build a fire in it again.

We love our outdoor fireplaces, and we know you do too. Be sure to maintain your fireplace to have a safe, cozy experience for many years to come.

Outdoor Style Romance

Valentine’s Day is all about love and spending time with your special someone. The typical Valentine’s date usually involves dinner out but restaurants are so crowded and busy that a romantic evening is often difficult to achieve with all the hustle and bustle. Imagine spending a relaxing romantic evening at home in your Texas Custom Patios outdoor living space and avoiding all the crowds and traffic. If you like the idea of spending February 14 on your patio, read on for some great ideas for making the night more romantic than ever.

Set the Mood

Lighting really helps to set the mood for a romantic evening. The trick is achieving a soft warm glow without it being too bright or too dark. Ceiling lights on dimmers are an obvious first choice. You can also add in some candle light or hang string lights for a great romantic atmosphere. Don’t be afraid to go all out with the candles… you can pick up hundreds of tea lights for just a couple of dollars. Don’t forget about the cozy outdoor fireplace. You’ll love the light and warmth while you sit close to each other.

Set the Table

What’s on the Valentine’s day menu? Be sure to know your partner’s likes and dislikes. You may want to steer the menu towards lighter foods that don’t leave you feeling overly full. Opt for lightly seasoned vegetables and smaller portions of grilled meats. Lighter meats like pork or chicken don’t feel as heavy as red meats typically do. If you do choose red meat, go for the filet mignon or tenderloin over a big sirloin or t-bone.

Set the Conversation

Be prepared for your romantic time together with good questions to ask. It’s amazing how couples who have been together for many years can still learn new things about each other as a result of a few well thought out questions. You may want to spend some time thinking about some questions you want to ask. Obviously you’ll want to avoid touchy subjects, instead focus on questions that will allow you to talk about your future and dreams. I you need help you can search online for romantic questions. The results will certainly range from mild to spicy and you’ll want to choose ones that are best for your relationship. You may even write them out on pieces of paper and take turns asking each other.

Project of the Month: January 2015

Gable roof outdoor patio cover was tied into an existing gable on this Sugar Land home. A massive stone wood-burning fireplace creates a beautiful focal point. We installed tongue and groove spruce for the ceiling, which is accentuated by the lofty exposed cedar-wrapped posts and beams. The wrought iron chandelier sets the mood for this outdoor space. See more here.