Fireplaces & Fire Pits

Outdoor entertaining has never been easier or more elegant. Express Outdoor Services’ custom built fireplaces and file pits can be stand alone or built into the surrounding landscape, offering style, diversity and ease of use.

Outdoor Fireplace

Building an outdoor fireplace is a huge commitment. Most of these fireplaces are permanent structures and will remain a part of your home for many years. This means that they have to remain attractive to you and any future owners of your property. This is why outdoor fireplace plans are vital before undertaking this type of construction.

Obviously, the first thing to consider when building an outdoor fireplace is where to place it. Many people choose to put a fireplace near the pool or on a deck that is used for entertaining. Be sure to choose a spot that compliments the house and other structures on the property. Also choose a spot that is ideal even if you change the landscaping or setup of your yard. Remember, the fireplace is permanent. You have to be happy with your placement decision.

The next thing to consider is what type of fuel you are going to burn in your fireplace. Wood fireplaces will require the installation of a chimney whereas gas fireplaces will require other venting structures. Keep in mind that the addition of a chimney or the exclusion of one may affect the overall look of your fireplace.

Next you will need to choose your fireplace materials. Most outdoor fireplaces are constructed with beautiful stone and brick.

The interior of the fireplace is constructed of aluminum alloy and/or cast iron. There are a wide variety of stones that can be used in constructing your fireplace so this could be the most enjoyable part of your construction project.

Now all you have to do is look through construction plans and/or view the outdoor fireplace photo gallery.. There are many styles to choose from so this could be a bit overwhelming. You can even customize your fireplace to make it perfectly accent your home and property. Once you have done this, it is time to begin construction and start enjoying your outdoor fireplace.

Fire Pits

Fire pits offer an excellent alternative to outdoor fireplaces and may better suit your landscaping needs. A fire pit is often the focal point of a social gathering of friends and family. Fire pits can be built in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your tastes, space, and backyard landscape needs. Fire pits are often used as accents in a well designed landscape and can be custom built using a selection of styles and materials, including natural stone, pre-cast concrete, slate, flagstone, brick, quartz, stacked stone and stucco.

Patio fire pits are a great improvement on rusting barbecues. While some are free-standing, many are built in as a permanent patio feature, so you'll always be prepared for al fresco dining with friends or an impromptu cook out with the kids. Patio fire pits are growing in popularity, and once you've used one, you'll wonder why you never got one before. Patio fire pits allow you to enjoy a fire on your patio or even barbecue. They're usually very attractive and are available in many styles to match your patio, so there's no need to put them away--they can be part of your permanent patio design.

Some free-standing fire pits are metal, but most built-in fire pits are made out of brick or stone and have a large, enclosed grate. Some of the best built-in fire pits are built up to a suitable working height. They are usually round, although other shapes are also available. You simply build a fire in it and bask in the warmth, or put the grill on and enjoy a barbeque.

In addition, if you combine a patio fire pit with some sort of overhead canopy or roof, you can create an appealing, and practical, extra living space: a patio room. The best thing about a patio room is that you can enjoy a warm summer evening even when it's raining!

Outdoor Entertaining

Outdoor entertaining areas are often an integral part of a well-designed landscape. They are becoming increasingly popular among those who enjoy entertaining outdoors. These spaces allow homeowners the flexibility of entertaining friends and family in sets that can handle large or small groups of people. The yard not only becomes an extension of the home’s living area but also smoothly extends the home’s atmosphere beyond the walls of the house.

Outdoor Kitchen

It's not your father's outdoor grill design anymore. From classic built-in outdoor grills to dream island units jam-packed with amenities such as wine coolers, pizza ovens and lobster boilers, the sky is the limit with today's outdoor kitchen designs. Many owners of upscale homes are including an outdoor kitchen in their backyard renovation plans. In the process, homeowners are creating an outdoor great room with areas for relaxation, entertainment, recreation, cooking and dining. Outdoor kitchen designs add functionality and value to your outdoor living space. Much more than just a cooking grill, outdoor kitchen designs can offer most of the conveniences and appliances that are found in an indoor kitchen.

Our landscape design and landscape installer team can create unique outdoor kitchen designs that add value and functionality to your outdoor living space. Our outdoor kitchen designs can include landscape design, deck design, landscape lighting, sprinkler systems, retaining walls, paver patios, paver walkways, decorative concrete and stamped concrete. Our outdoor kitchen designs can also incorporate waterfall designs, fountains, arbors and garden pergolas into your landscape design.

Garden Arbors & Pergolas

These arbor designs and garden pergolas will beautify your garden like no other structure can! An arbor or garden pergola can be made of wood, vinyl, or aluminum. The nicest part of owning one of the vinyl arbors or garden pergolas is that they require virtually no maintenance. You never need to paint them, yet they will appear as if you applied a fresh coat of paint each year! If you live in a hot climate, you may be glad to know that the leaves from certain types of climbing vines actually cool the air surrounding them, and so help to cool your home!

The aluminum and vinyl arbor and garden pergola products come with lifetime warranties, while the wood products are 100% cedar or redwood to provide years of enjoyment.

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