With so many options to choose from, how do you choose which is best for you?

There is no shortage of Masonry Fireplace types out there. Let alone the styles and options available on top of that. But, before you decide on the details of your outdoor fireplace, you need to choose the construction method that works best for your project. This will inform your budget, who will build your space, and what options you may have. Many masonry construction methods are suitable for this application. Done correctly, they are all great options. Masonry is a robust, durable, time-tested building material with a proven track record of outlasting the elements. Therefore, all masonry fireplace options should perform well and add enjoyment and functionality to your backyard upgrade. Read below to find out is best for your needs.

1. Custom Traditional Masonry Construction

The most tried and true of all outdoor hardscape features is one built using traditional masonry construction. This construction style features mortared blocks, bricks, and stones to create the structures of the outdoor fireplace. This method further requires the masonry to be tied to reinforced concrete footings below the frost line, adding complexity, trades, and cost. You will find this construction technique used to build homes and commercial spaces. Rarely is it used in residential outdoor builds. 

Traditional mortared masonry has by far the most options for design styles, size, materials, and installation options. You can choose from an overwhelming amount of possibilities when going this route. Unfortunately, there are too many of these to choose from, much less become somewhat educated about it. It takes experts in several trades to make a project like this go smoothly. Think architects, contracts, concrete workers, and masons, code officials, and the permitting office. The money and skills needed for a project of this scale are why this construction style is only found on ultra-high-end homes and is usually performed during initial construction.

If money is no option, this is the way to go. If you choose this route, you will be working through an architect/designer and have contracts and a contractor. They have the time and skills to guide you through this process or show you designs to approve or change. Unfortunately, "money is no option" has never been an option for any client I have ever dealt with. I have contracted one of these behemoths. I had a carpentry crew, masonry crew, and landscaping crew under me. The architect was four states away, and we had restrictive rules as the property was on the 11th hole of a golf course. Needles to say, it turned out breathtaking- and breathtakingly expensive. All the contractors made a pretty penny on that job. If you are reading this post, chances are this is not the option for you.

Pros:

• Limitless options for style, scale, materials, etc.
• The most Durable and tested methods used
• Most regulated, therefore a higher likelihood of a quality job
• Most impressive

Cons:

• Most Expensive
• Many Contracts, contractors, trades, etc. More people and more possible headaches
• Longest time to project completion
• Most restrictions
• Limitless options can be overwhelming.
• You need professional help at every stage.



Best Suited for:

If you can afford this option, go for it. Be prepared for outdoor living areas like these- not just the fireplace- to cost 500K. It takes all the best and most highly skilled trades from the designers, to the architects, through the contractors, and down to the masons and inspectors. The downside: TIME and MONEY. 

2.  Custom Hardscape Masonry Construction

The most tried and true of all outdoor hardscape features is one built using traditional masonry construction. This construction style features stacked and adhered blocks and stones to create the structures of the outdoor fireplace. This technique uses structural of masonry with durable attractive finishes.  By using one material for both structure and finish, you save on material and installation costs. You will find this construction technique in high end homes and some commercial spaces.

Modern hardscape building techniques may be what you are thinking of when you think of beautiful patios, pool areas, and outdoor living spaces with fireplaces, grills, and more. The increased popularity of this construction method over the past few decades have given hardscape construction a well-earned presence in consumers hearts, minds, and backyards.  This construction method is still a fairly involved process. There are skilled tradespersons involved and you will want to work with a designer. You will pay for custom builds due to a lengthy design or trial-and-error process. Permits are likely to be needed. Building codes differ heavily on these types of installations and what is being installed.

Customized hardscapes is definitely a major undertaking. In many ways it resembles the traditional masonry construction. Due to the nature of the build and fewer trades involved, you can often find design builders in this category. The streamlined process will save you time and money over a traditional build. But the money is still in the many tens of thousands of dollars. If you are doing a complete backyard remodel, this is a good option. This is probably the most common form of outdoor living and fireplace construction from low to high end residences. Many times these builds will also incorporate kits or prefab components to save time, money, and engineering costs.

Pros:

• Large but more limited options for style, scale, materials, etc.
• Very durable and tested methods used
• Moderately regulated, decent likelihood of a quality job
• Quite impressive

Cons:

• Expensive to install
• Contracts, contractors, and multiple trades may be involved.
• Long time to project completion
• Some restrictions
• You need professional help at some stages.



Best Suited for:

If you are adding a complete outdoor room, pool, or extensive patio area, this is the professional option to choose. The cost of building an outdoor area is similar to building a room addition plus 30%. Small projects can hover around the $10K range and go up into the couple hundred thousands. Usually people spend about as much as the car they like to drive on a moderate project.

3.  Pre-Designed Customizable Masonry Kits

Due to the rising popularity and cost of custom hardscape designs, companies produce pre-designed hardscape kits such as fire pits, fireplaces, grill islands, bars, kitchens, etc. These products are made using tried and true custom hardscape and masonry techniques. Due to the ease of installation, refined design, and speedy install, you find these kits often used by professionals when designing and building custom hardscapes. 

In many ways, this is a sweet spot for homeowners, DIYers, and professionals combined. By utilizing customizable kitmost customers wants and needs., you save time and money on installation costs. Customers have many options to choose from to populate their outdoor space, too. Plus, you get the added benefit of seeing what you are buying instead of paying for plans and hoping the fireplace or feature meets your vision. I know I am biased, but this is the spot Cornerstone occupies. We believe these style kits offer the best value and fulfills 

Being in the industry and dealing with homeowners, budgets, suppliers, and workforce, I believe there is a strong value proposition in utilizing customizable kits. The engineering and construction documentation is well established. Customizable fireplace kits allow us to add features a homeowner wants- kind of like adding furniture to a room. The money saved frees up resources for the more custom and structural or performance needs for their unique space. Also, many can be added to existing outdoor spaces for a fast, effective remodel or upgrade. Many people can install these themselves on existing patios.

If you are looking to save money or time, incorporating outdoor living kits into your backyard plan is a trusted and viable option. You can see how products will look when completed. Moreover, many kits are customizable or upgradable. The modular design of a kit allows for less skilled labor and is many times DIY friendly. Many options are high end products that use the economy of scale to save you time and money.

Pros:

• Lowest cost among comparable features
• Very Durable and tested methods used
• Used by professional and homeowners
• Very impressive options available
• Short time to completion
• Installs on existing patios
• DIY Friendly options

Cons:

• Limited options for style, scale, materials, etc.
• Higher upfront costs than raw materials
• May be hard to source locally



Best Suited for:

If you have the plan for your outdoor space, or are remodeling an existing patio, this is a great option. This option is also great if you are working with a professional and are trying to save time and money. Outdoor kits such as the ones available from Cornerstone Outdoor living are easy to build and DIY friendly potentially saving you even more coin.  The custom options allow a good amount of variation for the most commonly requested features in a tested package that looks great and saves money.  This is the sweet spot for professionals and DIYers as it offers benefits that both value.

4.  Pre-Fab Masonry Pieces

Prefabricated or Prefab masonry fireplaces and features are some of the newest and most confusing on the market. Some units are prefab and completely finished. These need only a solid foundation and a large loader to set them into place. While having the fewest choices, you can buy a fireplace kit entirely constructed - possibly in a few massive and cumbersome pieces. Installing these pieces can be very dangerous. Installation by insured professionals with heavy equipment is essential.

No doubt that quality units are available. Unfortunately, these are usually cost-prohibitive. There is extra markup on the labor of putting these together. Moreover, there is a complex shipping and installing procedure to further add to the price. The hazardous nature of moving a multiple-ton prefabricated fireplace- along with the high cost- has always turned me off to these units. That may sound like a heavy bias. But, there is often no clear, safe path through a client's property to move and install an entirely fabricated unit. Moreover, I find that piecing together a kit is a better option in these situations.

There are also kits on the market that are considered prefab that are merely pieces. Furthermore, these pieces may be for the basic skeleton of a fireplace. After initial installation with mortar, these kits must be skinned with traditional masonry for a complete and finished look. During my time as a masonry supply salesman, I found these to be a product without a place. The cost was similar to that of a complete kit. Yet, it took a skilled mason to put together, then build out the external veneer of the fireplace. Usually, the skilled mason would prefer to build a traditional fireplace to specification than pay for a high-priced kit that saved him little time and cost a good chunk of money. Materials for veneering the framework with manufactured stone can cost an additional $2500 plus. Then it takes skilled hands to install correctly. These kits also require traditional reinforced footings below the frost line.

Pros:

• Shortest time to project completion (completed builds)
• High likelihood of a quality product
• Known final outcome

Cons:

• Expensive
• High possibility for unseen damage
• It may be impossible/unsafe/difficult to deliver to final sight
• Most limited options for style, scale, materials, etc.
• May require additional skilled labor to complete
• Added expense for a masonry veneer
• You need professional help to install
• Large equipment needed



Best Suited for:

While I see the possible use of a complete prefab fireplace, the high cost and limited installation opportunity make it a tough sell for many projects. Be sure to have qualified equipment operators with hefty enough machines to install these products safely. The potential for (unseen) damage during shipment or installation seems frighteningly high, also. If you find one of these and you can safely get it to your backyard living area- don't let me interfere with your success and happiness.

Bout the prefab kits that require traditional skilled masons to install: I have difficulty seeing the benefit over a fully custom standard masonry fireplace build. Perhaps they bridge the gap between adept apprentice and master mason, but that seems like a strange use case. All the masons I know would prefer to build the structure themselves to a more exacting standard that may better fit their client's needs.

Summary

My team and I have been in this business for a long time. We come from different angles, but we still agree on one belief that has brought us together. We like to give customers what they want to make them happy. To do that, you have to produce stunning results on a budget. And while a $500K budget doesn't guarantee stunning results, it makes it easier to achieve. But we want everyone to afford stunning results. That is why we have decided to bring our upscale fireplace kits to market. Yes, there are a lot of choices out there. Many kits require DIY work that is outside the scope of non-professionals. The Cornerstone team has achieved offering the easiest to build yet still stunning outdoor living kits. Our kits are the best value in the business. And, you get to save even more money because you can build them yourself. If you decide to have someone install it for you, you will still save money due to the fast and easy construction.

Whatever you choose for your backyard project, know that a quality masonry fireplace, installed correctly, will be a great addition to your home. You will enjoy it for years to come. And if you do decide to sell your home, you will have a great differentiator that will have a high return on investment. It's a win all around!