Both a fireplace or a firepit are great options for providing heat during the colder months and also extending your reception areas in your home to outside in your yard.
However, when it comes to containing the heat, a fireplace is a lot better than a firepit. A firepit won’t contain the heat for as long because the flame is not contained and any breeze can move the warmth away from the area.
Whereas with a fireplace, the bricks and the closed-off structure will contain the heat more and therefore last longer.
Both are quite versatile in the designs you can get for them, firepits come in more traditional campfire designs and also rectangular designs built into a table-top structure to look more modern.
A fireplace is often quite a bit larger than a firepit though, although you can get both glass, brick, or stainless steel designs of fireplaces. One of the best things about having a firepit in comparison to a fireplace is the ability to move it around your yard or patio.
This also makes it the better choice if you want to socialize or interact in your yard as you can change the seating area around the firepit so it’s more sociable, whereas a fireplace is permanently in the same place so the seating area is limited and is often less sociable as you may not be able to sit with your friends and family face on.
A firepit is often preferred by families who want to have a focal point in the garden for interactive activities such as roasting smores, it allows everyone to sit around together, and all have access to the flames to melt the goodies on their sticks.
However, a fireplace often takes up less space than a firepit as they’re often built on the edge of a patio or our yard and require less space for seating in front of the fire to enjoy it, whereas a firepit will need a wider perimeter around it to accommodate everyone’s seats.
Although, installing a fireplace into the yard will take more planning and consideration as you’ll need to make sure that the chimney placement is correct so you don’t have smoke billowing everywhere.
Fireplaces are often built into a pavilion which is beneficial as you can sit outside and enjoy the fireplace in all weathers without getting wet. Many people also choose to install TVs or media systems onto their fireplace so they can carry out their usual relaxation activities while still being outside.
If you’re questioning which one is better in terms of cost then the answer would be a firepit. A firepit is less structurally permanent and will require fewer labor costs to have to install or bring one into your home.
They’re also normally made out of less expensive materials so their upfront costs are often considerably less than a fireplace. A fireplace costs on average around 2 to 3x the amount of buying and installing a firepit.
However, a fireplace may prove to be better value for money going forward as it may increase the value of your home meaning you could receive a higher amount when you consider selling it.
A fireplace is a more permanent structure but as it allows people to sit and enjoy the outside area even in cooler months it creates another reception area in the home which then increases the value of the home.
Fireplaces are also considered a high-end feature in a home and the addition of one of these in your yard will entice higher-end homebuyers even if your home is not considered a luxury home.
Depending on the building regulations in your area you may need to acquire a permit or permission to build a fireplace in your yard whereas you can simply buy a firepit from the store, bring it home and set it up straight away without any permission at all.
You could also choose to build your firepit from scratch and could cost you less than $500 to do so, however, building your own fireplace will take a higher level of skills, and the materials to build it are more expensive as the structure is larger and more complex.
One of the setbacks of firepits is that they can sometimes be dangerous when lit in windy conditions as the burning embers or the flames can blow near the guests or cause possible fires from catching onto other nearby objects or materials.
Although, most firepits come with a screen cover or a windshield to reduce the risk of any accidents occurring.
Fireplaces are better because the brick construction will catch the flames if the wind blows and you can also get a fire screen to prevent children from getting anywhere near the flames.
Firepits often require more maintenance than fireplaces do as they’re central in your yard and more exposed so everyone can see the debris. Without a lid or cover, they can easily collect rainwater which will need to be removed if you forget to put it on.
Whereas a fireplace does not collect any rainwater and is often a bit more covered than a firepit so the leftover debris is not as much of an eyesore as it would be in a firepit.
So what is better will be subjective to the person who is considering buying one. A fireplace is a more expensive and permanent structure but will add value to your home, whereas a firepit is more portable and can be taken with you when you decide to move home.
A firepit is also considered a more sociable choice as more people can sit around the firepit whereas the amount of people who can sit in front of a fireplace at once to keep warm is more limited.
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