One of the best ways to extend your enjoyment of your backyard into the evening hours is to relax in front of an outdoor fire. And these days, there are so many options available – from constructing a full fireplace and chimney, to purchasing a metal fire bowl or chimenea – that you can find something to fit just about any budget and style.

There are three main categories to choose from if you are considering an outdoor fireplace for your backyard:

• Fireplace: Basically, there is not much difference between the designs of indoor and outdoor fireplaces. And just like indoors, you have a choice of either wood or natural gas for fuel. The main difference is that outdoor fireplaces use a chimney in place of a damper. Outdoor fireplaces keep flames contained within a limited area, allowing you the maximum benefit of heat, with little risk of creating an uncontrollable fire in a fire pit or chimenea.
• Fire Pit: Fire pits are available in a wide range of styles and materials. Most fire pits are round and come in one of two varieties. The first variety is made of brick or cement and is fully integrated into your patio. If you do not have a patio, or don’t wish to redesign your patio for a brick or cement pit, then a portable fire pit made of copper, aluminum or steel might be the option for you. These models come in various sizes. Some have wheels and can be easily rolled to an appropriate place before igniting the flame. Most are no more than three feet across and three feet tall. Some have mesh screens to diminish the amount of sparks that fly out from a stack of burning logs.
• Chimenea: Chimeneas are generally made of clay and can be purchased for anywhere between $100 and $400. With clay chimeneas, it is important to insulate the inside bottom with either sand or volcanic rock, or keep fires within the small to medium range. Otherwise, the heat can get too intense, causing the clay to crack. This not only ruins the chimenea, but creates a fire hazard as well. Chimeneas require yearly coats of acrylic wax or water sealer to protect against moisture penetration. Also available are fire retardant vinyl covers to protect against moisture and for winter storage. The main thing is to keep water from entering the chimney when not in use.

Regardless of which type of outdoor fireplace you choose for your home, just remember – never build a fire so large that it can’t be contained safely, never leave it unattended and make sure that you douse your fire when through. And when deciding where to put your outdoor fireplace, make sure to locate it away from roof overhangs, hanging branches and anything flammable. Always keep fire pits and chimeneas on top of brick, concrete or block as the intense heat of these burners will scorch patio wood and lawn grass.

With appropriate safety precautions, you can enjoy the beauty and convenience of a fire in your backyard throughout the year. Mmmm …. S’mores, anyone?