Revolutionary Gardens

  • About our team
    • Press
  • Portfolio
    • Featured Projects
      • Fredericksburg Landscape Design and Pool
      • Pond install in Prince William County
      • Culpeper Landscape Design
      • Culpeper Modern Backyard Landscape Design
      • Sperryville landscape design with ponds and waterfalls
      • Fredericksburg landscaping at Chancellorsville
      • Lake Anna landscaping & planting
      • Culpeper Winery Landscape Design
      • Oakton Modern Landscape Design
    • Plantings
    • Patios & walks
    • Pools & Ponds
    • Pavilions & Porches
    • Pergolas & Decks
    • Outdoor kitchens
    • Fireplaces & Firepits
    • Retaining walls
  • Services
    • Landscape Design
    • Landscape Installation
    • Landscape Maintenance
    • Water Features
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Outdoor Kitchens
    • Estate Gardening
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • SHOP

Should I Build a Fire Pit or a Fireplace?

April 16, 2012 by Dave Marciniak Leave a Comment

I meet with a fair number of homeowners who say “I either want a firepit or a fireplace.” This uncertainty is actually a great place to start discussing how they’re going to use the space and how much they’d like to invest in the space, because an outdoor fireplace and a firepit are used very differently.

Fairfax Virginia fireplace

An outdoor fireplace is a sizable undertaking. Even the kits typically require a footer at frost depth, and a good mason is important for making the finished product look good. A fireplace tends to set up a more formal outdoor living or dining space, and you’re limited as to how many people can group around the firebox. Because of their size and mass, fireplaces are usually the dominant focal point of an outdoor space. However, their location next to the patio means that  you still have flexibility of layout and function on your patio.

Firepits are simpler to construct, making them less expensive than fireplaces. Firepits are also generally less formal than fireplaces. If you have visions of a garden dinner party on a summer’s evening in front of the fireplace, you probably have visions of incendiary marshmallows with the kids around a firepit.

Northern Virginia rectangular firepit with fire brick liner

MJ and I have a small portable firepit and we love it. However, it works for our small patio because it’s not built in. We  can drag it into the grass while we’re prepping and eating dinner, then shift the table to the grass and use the firepit when the sun goes down. A permanent, built in firepit means that that’s all you’re going to use that section of patio for. I think they’re great if you have the space, but if space or money (or both) are tight, a firepit may not be the best choice.

Space planning is a critical part of ensuring your northern Virginia landscape design performs as needed, especially when introducing large items like firepits and fireplaces. If you’re interested in learning the best way to introduce a fire feature into your landscape, contact me at 703-679-8550 to set up a meeting.

Filed Under: DC Landscape Design, Design, Hardscaping, Landscape Design, Maryland Landscape Design, Northern Virginia Landscape Design, Patio Designs, Stone, Virginia Landscape Design, Winery Landscape Design Tagged With: alexandria landscape design, arlington landscape design, bethesda landscape design, clifton landscape design, culpeper landscape design, dc landscape design, fairfax landscape design, falls church landscape design, fire pit, fireplace, fredericksburg landscape design, great falls landscape design, leesburg landscape design, manassas landscape design, maryland landscape design, McLean landscape design, middleburg landscape design, northern virginia landscape design, outdoor fireplace, Tysons Corner landscape design, vienna landscape design

About Dave Marciniak

Dave Marciniak is a landscape designer and speaker. He lives in Culpeper, Virginia and can be found via his website and on Twitter.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Archives

814 S. Blue Ridge Ave
Culpeper VA
22701
540-827-4299

Start planning your dream backyard today

Join our weekly email to get loads of ideas, inspiration, and tips for creating your ultimate staycation

  • About our team
    • Press
  • Portfolio
    • Featured Projects
      • Fredericksburg Landscape Design and Pool
      • Pond install in Prince William County
      • Culpeper Landscape Design
      • Culpeper Modern Backyard Landscape Design
      • Sperryville landscape design with ponds and waterfalls
      • Fredericksburg landscaping at Chancellorsville
      • Lake Anna landscaping & planting
      • Culpeper Winery Landscape Design
      • Oakton Modern Landscape Design
    • Plantings
    • Patios & walks
    • Pools & Ponds
    • Pavilions & Porches
    • Pergolas & Decks
    • Outdoor kitchens
    • Fireplaces & Firepits
    • Retaining walls
  • Services
    • Landscape Design
    • Landscape Installation
    • Landscape Maintenance
    • Water Features
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Outdoor Kitchens
    • Estate Gardening
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • SHOP

Design Inspiration

Get the latest on minimalism and white space. Simple as that.

Our mailing address

814 S. Blue Ridge Avenue
Culpeper VA 22701

(540) 401-5885

Connect with us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Phone
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About our team
  • Portfolio
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • SHOP

Copyright © 2022 · Agency Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in