An Outdoor Fireplace Changes Everything About How You Use Your Backyard

Some Backyard Upgrades Are Nice to Have. This One Changes How You Live Outside.

There is a meaningful difference between a fire pit and an outdoor fireplace and most homeowners do not fully appreciate it until they are sitting in front of one. A fire pit gathers people around it in a circle. An outdoor fireplace creates a room. It gives your backyard a focal point, a sense of enclosure, and an architectural presence that no other single feature can replicate. It also extends your outdoor season in Iowa well into October and November in a way that a fire pit simply cannot match.

Outdoor fireplace installation is one of the services we get the most questions about at Escape Landscaping and also one of the most misunderstood. Homeowners who have never seen a professionally designed outdoor fireplace in person often underestimate what they can look like and what they can do for a backyard. Those who have seen one almost always want one. This guide covers everything you need to know before you start planning yours.

At Escape Landscaping we design and build custom outdoor fireplaces across Des Moines, Waukee, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive, West Des Moines, Dallas Center, Grimes, Adel, and the surrounding area. We have been building them since 2009 alongside patios, outdoor kitchens, and seating walls as part of complete backyard transformations across the greater Des Moines metro.

What Makes an Outdoor Fireplace Different From a Fire Pit

The functional difference comes down to containment and ambiance. A fire pit is open on all sides and radiates heat outward in every direction. An outdoor fireplace has a firebox, a surround, and a chimney that direct heat and smoke upward and outward from the front opening. You sit in front of it the way you would sit in front of an indoor fireplace, and the experience is completely different.

From a design standpoint an outdoor fireplace is an architectural feature in a way that a fire pit is not. A well-built outdoor fireplace has mass, height, and presence. It anchors a patio the way a fireplace anchors a living room. The surrounding patio, seating walls, and landscape elements orient themselves around it naturally because it is clearly the center of the space. Outdoor fireplaces also tend to photograph beautifully, which matters less than it sounds until you see what they do for the overall appearance of a backyard.

From a practical standpoint the chimney is what makes an outdoor fireplace particularly valuable in Iowa. Smoke rises and exits through the flue rather than drifting horizontally across the seating area depending on which way the wind is blowing. Anyone who has spent an evening repositioning themselves around a fire pit trying to stay out of the smoke knows exactly what this means.

Wood Burning vs. Gas Outdoor Fireplaces

This is one of the first decisions homeowners need to make and both options have genuine merit depending on how the fireplace will be used.

Wood Burning Outdoor Fireplaces

A wood burning outdoor fireplace delivers the full sensory experience that draws people to fire in the first place. The crackle of burning wood, the smell of a real fire, the unpredictable dance of natural flame, and the ritual of building and tending the fire are all part of what makes a wood burning fireplace feel authentic and satisfying in a way that gas simply cannot replicate for some homeowners.

Wood burning fireplaces require a properly sized firebox and flue to draw correctly and burn efficiently. Escape Landscaping designs wood burning fireplaces with the correct proportions for the opening size and the intended fuel load so the fireplace draws well and does not smoke back into the seating area. Firewood storage can be incorporated into the surround design as a built-in feature that is both functional and visually integrated into the overall structure.

Gas Outdoor Fireplaces

Gas outdoor fireplaces offer a level of convenience that wood burning cannot match. Instant ignition with the turn of a valve, no wood to haul or store, no ash to clean out, and a consistent flame that requires no tending make gas fireplaces ideal for homeowners who want the ambiance of a fire without any of the work involved in maintaining one.

Gas fireplace inserts also allow for more design flexibility in some cases because the firebox dimensions are not governed by the same combustion physics as a wood burning unit. Linear gas inserts in particular have become increasingly popular in contemporary outdoor fireplace designs where a wide, low flame profile suits the architectural style better than a traditional arched firebox opening.

For properties that already have a gas line serving an outdoor kitchen or gas fire pit, extending that line to serve an outdoor fireplace as well is typically straightforward and cost-effective. Escape Landscaping coordinates utility connections as part of the installation process so homeowners are not managing separate contractors for the gas work.

Design Options for Custom Outdoor Fireplaces in the Des Moines Area

One of the things that surprises homeowners most during the design consultation is how wide the range of outdoor fireplace styles actually is. This is not a one-size-fits-all product category. The right design depends on your home’s architectural style, the materials used elsewhere in your outdoor space, the size of your patio, and your own aesthetic preferences.

Traditional Masonry Fireplaces

A traditional masonry outdoor fireplace built from natural stone, brick, or a combination of both is the classic choice and for good reason. Natural stone fireplaces have an timeless quality that improves with age and integrates beautifully into Iowa landscapes where fieldstone and limestone are part of the natural visual vocabulary. Brick fireplaces pair naturally with homes that have brick exterior elements and bring a warmth and character to a patio that manufactured materials cannot fully replicate.

Masonry fireplaces are built on site by Escape Landscaping’s crew and are designed to complement the specific materials, proportions, and style of your home and existing outdoor space. No two are identical.

Manufactured Fireplace Systems

Prefabricated outdoor fireplace systems use an engineered firebox and chimney assembly that gets faced with stone, brick, stucco, or other finish materials on site. This approach can reduce installation time and cost compared to full masonry construction while still producing a finished fireplace that looks completely custom. The facing material and the surround design are where the customization happens, and the range of available finishes means the end result can look virtually identical to a fully masonry-built fireplace at a price point that makes the project accessible to a wider range of budgets.

Escape Landscaping works with both fully masonry-built and manufactured system fireplaces depending on the client’s design goals, timeline, and budget. We walk through both options during the consultation so you can make an informed decision rather than guessing which approach is right for your project.

Contemporary Outdoor Fireplaces

The growing interest in contemporary outdoor design across the Des Moines metro has created strong demand for outdoor fireplaces that break from the traditional arched opening and stone surround format. Linear gas inserts set into clean stucco or large-format stone surrounds, wall-mounted fireplace features integrated into outdoor living structures, and minimalist concrete fireplaces with simple geometric forms are all part of the contemporary outdoor fireplace conversation that Escape Landscaping is increasingly having with clients in Waukee, Ankeny, and the Des Moines suburbs.

How an Outdoor Fireplace Fits Into a Complete Backyard Design

An outdoor fireplace is rarely a standalone project and it should not be treated as one. The fireplace anchors a space but it needs the right elements around it to reach its potential. A well-designed outdoor fireplace installation typically includes a patio that is sized and shaped to create the right relationship between the fireplace and the seating area, built-in seating walls or a combination of built-in and movable furniture that creates a defined gathering zone in front of the firebox, landscape lighting that illuminates the fireplace surround and surrounding area after dark, and plantings or privacy features that give the space a sense of enclosure and intimacy.

Escape Landscaping approaches outdoor fireplace projects as part of a complete outdoor living design rather than a single isolated feature. We design the fireplace, the surrounding patio, the seating elements, the lighting, and the plantings as a unified space so the finished result feels complete from day one rather than like a fireplace surrounded by whatever happened to already be there. You can view examples of our completed outdoor living projects in our project gallery on the Escape Landscaping website and learn more about our full hardscape and landscaping services on the services page.

What an Outdoor Fireplace Costs in the Des Moines Area

Outdoor fireplace installation is a meaningful investment and the range is wide depending on the complexity of the design, the materials selected, and whether the fireplace is part of a larger patio and outdoor living project or a standalone installation.

Prefabricated system fireplaces with standard finish materials typically start around $8,000 to $15,000 installed. Fully custom masonry fireplaces built from natural stone or brick run higher depending on material costs and the scale of the structure, commonly falling between $15,000 and $35,000 or more for larger statement fireplaces with elaborate surrounds. When an outdoor fireplace is part of a complete patio, seating wall, and outdoor living installation the overall project budget naturally encompasses all of those elements together.

Escape Landscaping provides free on-site consultations and written quotes for all outdoor fireplace projects. We give you an accurate number based on your specific design goals and site conditions before any work begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for an outdoor fireplace in the Des Moines area?

Permit requirements vary by municipality. Many cities in the Des Moines metro require permits for permanent outdoor fireplace structures and for gas line connections. Escape Landscaping reviews local requirements with you during the consultation and helps navigate the permitting process where it applies.

How far does an outdoor fireplace need to be from my house?

Setback requirements vary by jurisdiction and by fireplace type. As a general guideline most outdoor fireplaces should be positioned at least ten feet from the home and from any combustible structure. Escape Landscaping accounts for setback requirements during the design phase so placement is correct from the start.

Can an outdoor fireplace be added to an existing patio?

In many cases yes. The primary considerations are whether the existing patio is large enough to accommodate the fireplace and a properly sized seating area in front of it, whether a gas line can be extended to the location if a gas unit is planned, and whether the aesthetic of the new fireplace will integrate cleanly with existing patio materials. Escape Landscaping assesses all of these factors during the consultation and gives you an honest recommendation on the best approach for your specific situation.

How long does outdoor fireplace installation take?

Timeline depends on whether the fireplace is a prefabricated system or a fully masonry-built structure, and whether it is part of a larger patio project. A standalone prefabricated fireplace installation typically takes three to five days. A fully custom masonry fireplace as part of a complete patio project may take two to three weeks depending on scale and complexity. Escape Landscaping provides a clear project timeline before work begins.

Can an outdoor fireplace be used year-round in Iowa?

Yes and this is one of the strongest arguments for choosing a fireplace over a fire pit. The chimney design manages smoke effectively even in variable wind conditions and the radiant heat from an outdoor fireplace extends comfortable outdoor use well into Iowa’s fall season. Many Escape Landscaping clients with outdoor fireplaces use them from March through November.

Ready to Build Something Worth Gathering Around?

Call Escape Landscaping at (515) 250-9886 or request your free quote online and let us design an outdoor fireplace that becomes the centerpiece of your backyard for years to come. We serve Des Moines, Waukee, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive, West Des Moines, Dallas Center, Grimes, Adel, and the surrounding area.