This home had a large pool in the yard and a very small covered area, but the homeowner was looking to upgrade the entire yard and create their own paradise.

TCP added a new patio cover along the side that includes an outdoor kitchen and fireplace. We upgraded the existing cover as well as added a pergola and firepit.

We added about 1000 square feet of new stamped concrete to the backyard. The new covered outdoor living area is roughly 435 square feet with a high-vaulted ceiling and an open gable on the end and along the front side. The ceiling is English Porter pre-stained tongue and groove from Woodtone. The outdoor kitchen was placed at the end and is also an L-shape to allow plenty of room for the 40” grill, sink, outdoor-rated fridge, and storage. All appliances RCS are from Cunningham Gas, while the counter has a raised bar top for seating on the outside and is Coffee Brown Leather granite from Instyle Granite.

We placed the fireplace along the side to help provide privacy to the yard. It is a custom-built gas fireplace with an insert from Perfection Fireplace, and all of the stone caps are Chiffon Moire Ashlar Natural White from Apex Stone. The fascia of the fireplace, kitchen, and columns are Blanco Chopped from Rock Materials, and the mantle is custom-stained cedar.  On the far side of the pool, we added a gas firepit. All stones and caps match the rest of the project, and the black lava rock to fill it is from Republic Gas Bowls.

To upgrade the existing patio cover, we changed out the ceiling to match the new cover and hung new lighting. To extend their space along the home, a new pergola was added. At roughly 185 square feet, this structure has a Hercules Pergola Cover from Cover Your Pergola to keep everything nice and dry underneath.

This backyard is now truly a place to Live it Out.

An outdoor fireplace or fire pit is an eye-catching, functional addition to your outdoor design. A fire feature adds warmth and ambiance and can act as a point of engagement for guests.

While fireplace and fire pit structures add similar appeal, they have some key differences. These distinctions play apart in deciding which one is right for your outdoor living space.

Ask yourself these questions to determine whether an outdoor fireplace or a fire pit is right for you.

How much space do you have?

A fireplace is probably the better option if limited space is a concern. They are usually smaller and can be built on the edge of a patio to take up minimal space. 

A fire pit may require about 150 to 200 sq. ft. So if space is limited, a fire pit may not be ideal.

How do you plan to use your fire feature?

Desired experience is a key factor. Do you envision a group of guests sitting around the fire chatting? Or is warmth and ambiance the goal?

Fire pits are usually round, square or rectangular, making them ideal to sit around. They can act as a casual gathering and interaction point.

On the other hand, a fireplace offers space for a couple of people to sit in front. You may find that a fireplace creates a more elegant atmosphere or a focal point in your outdoor design.    

Do you live in a windy area?

Climate is another factor to consider. Do you live in a windy area?

Fire pits tend to produce a lot of smoke. Due to the unpredictability of winds, you can run into the issue of smoke blown in an undesirable direction. 

Whereas, fireplaces are built with a chimney to carry smoke away from the house. You can also use your fireplace on rainy days if your patio is covered.

Are you looking for wood burning or gas?

With both fire pits and fireplaces, you have the option of wood burning or gas. 

With wood burning, you get that nice warmth, crackle and smokiness—almost like you’re sitting beside a campfire. However, there’s a bit more effort required in building and lighting the fire, and there are limitations on the style. Wood-burning options must be built using masonry with certain fire codes met for chimney height and distance from structure.

Gas, on the other hand, starts instantly, and there’s virtually no clean-up. There’s also more versatility when it comes to styling as you can add decorative fyre glass or lava rock. 

Cost of Installation

Going with a wood burning option can be good for your budget. Gas requires running a gas line, which can increase the cost.

Whether you go with wood or gas, an outdoor fire pit installation generally comes with a lower price tag. However, outdoor fireplaces generally increase your home resale value. 

In addition to the financial costs, a fire pit may require more cleanup and maintenance depending on the type and how it’s installed.  

With careful consideration, the right fire feature can add practicality and style to your outdoor living space. 

Our experts are here to help you make the decision easier. Give one of our outdoor-living specialists a call at 281-265-1994 in Houston, or 972-915-2727 in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Click here to discover styles for several different fire features.

Each month we feature one of our most stunning projects, whether it be a covered patio or an outdoor kitchen with a beautiful fire feature, contemporary or traditional … we give you a glimpse of a highlighted completed project!  These projects were built in the greater Houston area and the Dallas/Fort Worth area.  Let’s take a look back at the projects that really stood out for 2018.

Click the link below to discover all details about these projects, including: cost range, size, materials and sketches!

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At Texas Custom Patios, we are a custom builder specializing in custom built patio covers, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, screened porches, room additions and other outdoor living structures in the Greater Houston Area.

Our service area extends northwest to include the following communities: The Woodlands, Spring, Cypress, Tomball, Klein, and Jersey Village. Over the past 12 years, we have built outdoor living spaces in almost every neighborhood, including: Creekside, Carlton Woods, Augusta Pines, Coles Crossing, Champions, Fairfield, Copperfield, Towne Lake, Bridgeland, Black Horse Ranch, Gleannloch Farms, Stonegate, Canyon Lakes, Lakes on Eldridge, Wimbledon, Bridgestone, and more.

Our service area extends west to the communities of Spring Branch, The Villages of Hunter Creek/Piney Point/Hedwig, Memorial, Katy and Fulshear. Specific neighborhoods where we’ve done a great deal of adding outdoor patio covers and living spaces are Tanglewood, Briargrove, Memorial, Spring Valley, Royal Oaks, Windsor Lake Estates, Green Trails, Kelliwood, Deerfield, Grand Lakes, Cinco Ranch, Seven Meadows, Cross Creek Ranch, Falcon Point, Weston Lakes, and Firethorne.

On the southwest side, Texas Custom Patios designs and builds outdoor patio projects in Richmond, Rosenberg, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford and Meadows Place. Because the business started in Fort Bend County in 2004, we have completed jobs in many neighborhoods, including First Colony, Sienna Plantation, Riverstone, Pecan Grove, Greatwood, New Territory, Telfair, Aliana, Waterside Estates, Longmeadow Farms, Lakes of Bella Terra, Westheimer Lakes, Sugar Creek, Sweetwater, Commonwealth and Quail Valley.

South and southeast of Houston, we have a large presence of building patio covers in Pearland, Manvel, Friendswood, Clear Lake, and League City. Neighborhoods where we have built outdoor living spaces include: Shadow Creek Ranch, Southwyk, Southfork, Silver Lake, Silver Creek, Sedona Lakes, The Forest of Friendswood, West Ranch, Lakes of Highland Glen, Bay Oaks, Pine Brook, and Nassau Bay.

Northeast of Houston, we build backyard patio covers in Humble, Atascocita, Kingwood and Porter, including the neighborhoods of Fall Creek and Summerwood.

Finally, we provide our services to all communities and neighborhoods near and inside the 610 Loop, like West U, Bellaire, Meyerland, Montrose, Upper Kirby, River Oaks, Midtown, Southside Place and The Heights.

Now let’s hop on 45 North … we also proudly build in the Dallas – Ft. Worth metroplex. Our service area extends to the Hurst, Euless, Bedford area in Tarrant County. Lewisville, Flower Mound and Highland Village north of DFW are also areas we build outdoor living spaces. McKinney, Frisco and Little Elm are in our Collin County service area. Allen, Plano and Richardson are on the eastern border of our service area, and we build patio covers in Grand Prairie, Arlington and Mansfield as a southern border.

We’ve designed and built patio covers in the neighborhoods of Timarron in Southlake, Woodland Hills in Colleyville, Hackberry Creek in Irving, The Tribute in the Colony, Bent Tree in Dallas, the Arbors of Creekwood in Mansfield, along with many other patio covers, outdoor kitchens, and fireplaces in Lewisville, Coppell, Frisco, Little Elm, and McKinney.

We can build everything from traditional to contemporary  … super modern or farm house chic covered patios … if you can dream, we can build it!  We know that the Super Bowl just ended, but if you would like to enjoy this year’s football season at your own patio party, give us a call now!  Use the guide below to help you with your timeframe in getting started.

Click on the image to discover the details of this traditional project.

Click on the image to discover the details of this traditional project in Briar Bayou.

An outdoor fireplace is a great addition to any outdoor living space. It adds warmth, ambiance and can be a great place to hang a TV in your outdoor space. While a fireplace is nice and cozy it does require regular maintenance to function correctly and burn safely during cooler months. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your outdoor fireplace is ready to perform in the cool weather for many years.

Inspection

Cleaning

Burn

Monitor

Between professional inspections it is important for you to regularly monitor the condition of your outdoor fireplace. Soot and creosote can build up inside the firebox and chimney and can make the fireplace very unsafe. If you don’t know how to recognize these build ups ask you chimney sweep to show you what to look for. If you notice a build up of soot and creosote in your fireplace have it cleaned before you build a fire in it again.

Gable roof outdoor patio cover was tied into an existing gable on this Sugar Land home. A massive stone wood-burning fireplace creates a beautiful focal point. We installed tongue and groove spruce for the ceiling, which is accentuated by the lofty exposed cedar-wrapped posts and beams. The wrought iron chandelier sets the mood for this outdoor space. See more here.

Click on the image to view more photos of this modern project in Houston.