In Atlanta, we have the luxury of a largely temperate climate perfect for an outdoor living area.. We can use our porches, decks and patios nearly all year long. But as cool weather approaches, many people may be thinking about retiring their outdoor living spaces for the coming seasons, wishing instead to remain cozy and warm indoors.
Well, what if you could have both? The crisp, outdoor air of fall combined with radiant, manufactured heat to keep you warm. You can. There are several outdoor heating options that not only serve to keep you and your guests toasty while enjoying your outdoor living areas, but also add style and design to your space.
The Hearth, Patio and Barbeque Association encourages you to extend the season by taking advantage of any number of the outdoor heating appliances available to homeowners today for your outdoor living area.
Outdoor Living Area Tips
Outdoor fireplaces and stoves
Outdoor fireplaces are both functional and beautiful. An experienced Atlanta contractor can install and customize an outdoor fireplace that meshes with the design of your yard and patio. Surround a fireplace with built-in seating, and you’ll create a warm and relaxing area where everyone will want to commune during the chilly days and nights.
Like fireplaces, outdoor stoves – typically built within fully-functional outdoor kitchens – can be both useful and attractive. The radiant heat they create will warm the area, and you can use it just as you would the stove in your kitchen.
Mobile outdoor heating
Fire-pits are a fairly recent addition to the outdoor heating appliance market, and they are prized for the old-school appeal and convenience. Most fire-pits are mobile, and they can be relocated to where the party is with ease. Some come with built-in grill grates, allowing you to do some simple camp fire-style cooking. They provide heat in 360°, making them ideal for warming a large, gathered group of people.
You want to be sure not to use a fire-pit indoors, under low-hanging eaves or branches, too near your home or on dry, grassy surfaces. It is an open flame and the fire hazards of such should always be kept in mind.
Chiminea’s are one of the oldest forms of outdoor heating, and they are constructed using metal or clay. They radiate heat only from one side, much like a fireplace, and are commonly fueled by wood – which must be added to keep the flame stoked. A large chimney extends upward to direct smoke away from you, but unfortunately, chiminea’s often crack or break with extreme temperatures.
Heaters
People have long used space heaters to warm remote parts of the home, or in some cases, in place of a central heating component. But outdoor, patio heaters are a newer trend and manufacturers have responded by creating them in an array of styles. Most are gas-operated and free-standing. Many of the units are tall, made of steel and radiate heat downward in a large circle. There are, however, smaller, tabletop heaters that work as well.
Are you interested in outdoor heating that will allow you and your guests to enjoy the use of your patio or deck this fall? Glazer has experience creating outdoor living areas for year-round use. So whether it’s a built-in, customized outdoor fireplace or advice on other outdoor heating options you seek, we can help. Call Glazer Design and Construction at 404.683.9848, email Randy@GlazerConstruction.com or complete our Fast Form below.