Homeowners May Profit on Cost of a Masonry Fireplace

The cost of a masonry fireplace in your yard can vary from relatively inexpensive to a major outdoor living project. How much you invest can be based on several factors that include design, materials and labor among others. But, at the end of the day when you install a brick fireplace, you are making a lifestyle enhancing change that will increase the value of your property.

Simple Fire Pits

Homeowners with existing patios sometimes just want to add that cozy fire pit that friends and family can socialize around. They can be made from classic red brick or stone with a heat absorbing base. Low lying fireplaces are relatively inexpensive by comparison to more elaborate designs because they are not overly labor intensive and require minimal materials. Of course, they also have limited function in terms of cooking. But if you just want to scare off mosquitoes and enjoy a fire, they are an inexpensive option.

Cooking Fireplaces

There are many possible designs for outdoor cooking fireplaces, but two basic ways to think about them are traditional fire or modern inlays.

Traditional designs often set cast iron grates above the flames and cook with direct heat. These styles generally utilize solid stone or traditional brick. In terms of cost, it’s a middle of the road option based on labor and materials.

Of course, total cost does depend on how elaborate and expansive of a project you choose. The upside of these styles is that you can enjoy the fire at night as well as the cooking function.

Another design that has become very popular in recent years is creating brick veneer facades around modern cooking technologies. The idea is to bring a full kitchen into your backyard. Integrating actual stoves, burners and even ovens into a plan becomes more labor intensive.

On the materials side, veneer brick can run as low as half the cost of full brick and look exactly alike. Veneer is real brick, just thinner. Veneer can offset some of the cost of creating a full outdoor kitchen. More elaborate layouts can include a spot for late-night fires as well.

How Much Does a Brick Fireplace Cost

If you are thinking about the cost of a masonry fireplace in your backyard, one way to look at it is that you aren’t spending money. Outdoor upgrades such as patios and fireplaces average 150 percent return on investment for homeowners. Projects that greatly enhance a home tend to enjoy even higher returns.

If you are considering an improvement, call Pinska Masonry for an estimate or more information on the cost of a masonry fireplace and chimney.