· Michael Blair
Middle Tennessee spring and autumn evenings are the best outdoor weather of the year, and a fire feature extends both. Where it goes and how it is built decide whether it is used or becomes an ornament.
Placement
Far enough from the house and from anything overhanging — trees, eaves, a pergola. Downwind of the main seating so smoke does not sit in it, which means knowing the prevailing wind.
And close enough to the house to be convenient, since a fire pit at the bottom of the garden gets used far less than one off the patio.
Fire pit or fireplace
A fire pit is open on all sides, seats more people around it and costs far less. A fireplace radiates in one direction, blocks wind, and provides a vertical structure that anchors a space.
A fireplace also draws smoke up a flue rather than into whoever is downwind, which matters more than people expect.
- Check clearances from the house and any overhang
- Consider prevailing wind and where smoke will go
- Gas is convenient; wood is what most people actually want
- Confirm HOA rules and any burn restrictions
- Fire pits need a non-combustible base, not just gravel
Gas or wood
Gas lights instantly, produces no smoke and needs a line run. Wood produces the fire people actually picture and requires fuel storage, ash removal and attention to burn conditions.
Many outdoor fireplaces here are built for wood with a gas starter, which is a reasonable compromise.
Rules
Metro has open burning rules and there may be seasonal restrictions during dry spells. HOAs frequently have their own, particularly on permanent structures.
A permanent masonry fireplace is a structure and usually requires permitting, unlike a portable fire pit.