Building an outdoor fireplace the right way requires more than stacking stone and hoping for the best. VistaScapes Design builds custom outdoor fireplaces throughout Tulsa using the correct components: a refractory brick firebox rated for sustained high temperatures, a properly dimensioned smoke chamber, clay flue tile liner, and a spark arrestor at the top. This is how outdoor fireplaces are supposed to be built — and it’s what makes the difference between a fireplace that works safely for decades and one that smokes into your patio, spalls from thermal stress, or poses a fire hazard.
How a Correct Outdoor Fireplace is Built
Foundation
We start with a proper footing — typically a concrete pad sized to the fireplace footprint and poured to frost depth for Tulsa’s climate. Without an adequate foundation, the entire structure is at risk of settling and cracking over time.
CMU Block Structure
The structural shell of the fireplace is built in CMU (concrete masonry unit) block. CMU provides the mass and structural strength needed for a permanent outdoor fireplace. The exterior is then finished with the stone or brick veneer of your choice.
Refractory Firebox
The firebox — the chamber where the fire burns — must be lined with refractory (fire) brick. Standard brick will fail under repeated thermal cycling. Refractory brick is rated for the sustained high temperatures of an active fire and is the only appropriate material for firebox construction.
Smoke Chamber and Flue
Above the firebox, the smoke chamber collects combustion gases and directs them into the flue. The flue — typically 8×12 or 8×13 clay tile for a residential outdoor fireplace — extends up through the chimney and vents combustion products safely above the structure. A spark arrestor at the top prevents burning embers from escaping.
Natural Stone and Brick Veneer Options for Tulsa
We finish outdoor fireplaces in whatever stone or brick veneer fits your aesthetic. Popular choices in Tulsa include: Oklahoma ledgestone, Tennessee crab orchard stone, gray limestone, full bed brick, thin brick veneer, and stacked stone. The mantel and hearth can be finished in natural stone slab, precast concrete, or brick header courses depending on the design direction.
Call VistaScapes for Your Tulsa Outdoor Fireplace
Call 918-779-1317 or visit vistascapesdesign.com for a free outdoor fireplace consultation in Tulsa. We design, build, and warrant every fireplace we construct — and we build them to last.
