How to Build an Outdoor Stacked Stone Fireplace

Add fireside ambiance to your backyard with an outdoor fireplace made with stacked stone.

Materials Needed:

stacked stone
2X4 pressure-treated lumber
concrete foundation
concrete cinder blocks
backer board
screws
mortar
trowel
tape measure
pencil
notepad

nail gun
nails
drill
screws
chop saw
shovel
chimney cap
protective gloves
screwdriver
masonry anchors or bits

Step 1: Create a Design

Use tape measure to determine width, length, depth and height of fireplace. Jot dimensions down in notepad using pencil. Establish the overall look for fireplace. Consider brick for a more traditional aesthetic or man-made stacked stone for a contemporary look. Also decide if your fireplace will be wood burning or gas-lit.

Step 2: Create a Concrete Foundation

If your home doesn’t already offer a safe, flat area with a concrete slab, create one by digging a ditch, and mixing then pouring concrete.

Step 3: Lay Concrete

Referring to design, lay concrete cinder blocks, adding a layer of mortar between each block, leaving opening at top of chimney for ventilation.

Step 4: Build a Façade Frame

Referring to dimensions on notepad, cut 2X4 lumber to size with chop saw. Assemble each 2X4 with nails using nail gun or with screws using drill.

Step 5: Attach Cement Board

Cut cement board to size using chop saw. Using drill, attach cement boards to frame with concrete screws. For smaller areas of frame, use chop saw to cut cement boards to size.

Step 6: Add Mortar

Mix mortar, referring to directions on packaging. Use trowel to scoop mortar from bucket, then add mortar to predetermined cement boards. TIP: Applying mortar in sections will keep it from drying out prior to placing stone.

Step 7: Install Stacked Stone

Press stacked stone material into mortar, holding in place until self-supported. Continue placement of stones, ensuring no space is left between them.

San Diego Real Estate | By San Diego Realtors

Step 8: Attach Chimney Cap

Most chimney caps are made of metal; wear protective gloves before installing. If you have a single-flue chimney cap, slip it over the flue, firmly tightening the screws on all sides of the chimney cap. Inside-mount chimney caps require a firm push directly into the flue. If your cap requires masonry anchors or bits, attach using drill.

Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.

Posted on August 25, 2012 by alvinnewton42 0

California Home Prices By County

Posted on August 21, 2012 by alvinnewton42 0

Soothing Beach Style Bedrooms

Tradition with a Twist

Give a classic Chesterfield sofa a twist with striped linen instead of stodgy leather. It lightens the mood and adds oomph to the room’s focal point—the bed!

San Diego Beach Homes | By San Diego Realtors

Surf and Slumber

Turn a favorite memory into a piece of art by printing a beachy photo on canvas. To turn it into a focal point, keep the rest of the room simple with muted tones and textures.

Eclectic Elegance

Simulate a water view without the ocean by bringing in items reminiscent of the beach: sea grass, driftwood textures, sandy neutrals, and sea blues.

Blue and White Delight

Stripes, checks, and plaids never go out of style. But just because they’re classic doesn’t mean they have to be predictable! Try a bold geometric print, like this railroaded pattern on the curtains, for contrast.

Easy, Breezy

Use sheer, lightweight curtains to keep the airy effect going from the beach to the bedroom. A neutral color palate has a barely-there feeling that won’t take the wind out of your sails.

Surf and Turf

Woven grass-cloth walls set the tone for a texture-rich hideaway. Driftwood, bamboo, and linen are echoed throughout this bedroom to add depth and dimension to the rain forest color palette.

Seaside Elegance

Don’t be afraid to be inspired by your surroundings―the ocean is the perfect place to draw from with serene blues and whites. Be loyal to one color so you can layer floral, geometric, and batik fabrics while maintaining the serenity of the sea.

Posted on August 16, 2012August 16, 2012 by alvinnewton42 0

San Diego Outdoor Lounging Spaces: Daybeds, Hammocks, Canopies and More!

Japanese Inspiration

Whether meditating or enjoying a cup of green tea, this daybed set amidst a bonsai garden is designed for ultimate relaxation. The red-and-brown bedding ties in perfectly with the yard’s Japanese theme.

San Diego Real Estate | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

An Outdoor Room With a View

This teak daybed dangles from a grass-topped pavilion as it overlooks the soft waves on the beach in Mexico’s Zihuatanejo Bay.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

The Grass Is Always Greener

Lounging on a blanket in the grass is great, but what if the grass form-fitted to your body? That’s what designer Jamie Durie created here with this sunken, clamshell-inspired sofa “upholstered” with grass and AstroTurf.

A Shady Spot to Lounge

Creating a four-poster frame just for your daybed means you don’t have to limit your placement to areas with existing structures. This one is situated at the edge of yard for maximum shade.

The Perfect Vantage Point

Sit down and stay awhile on this cushioned, out-of-the-way bench. Rambling ground cover and curved pavers lead your eye out to the rest of the yard.

Suspended Relaxation

Halfway between a hammock and a daybed, this suspended outdoor lounger is placed so the lucky occupant can either enjoy the view of the adjacent pond or take part in the action at the dinner table.

Posted on June 11, 2012 by alvinnewton42 0

San Diego Coastal Real Estate Report

San Diego Coastal Real Estate Report offering news, information, and market updates by San Diego Coastal Realtor, Alvin Newton, and The RE/MAX Collection