Background:
Jack of all trades, master of none. I built my partial inground pool 2 years ago and just wrapping up my deck. Over the winter built a nice in-wall perfume shelf with COB LED front lighting, and I'll need to pull my 02 f150 HD motor as I was running a tune on a smaller pulley and decided beating my friends WRX was paramount in too cold of weather and the bottom end let go. Point being? I'm not afraid to tackle anything but I like doing things the right way and well that takes time to learn so I'm trying to crash course this fireplace with your help!
Goal:
NG fireplace into a privacy wall on a deck ~3 feet off the ground. This is for the wife and I to sit enjoy some warmth outdoors in a nice setting for a short period of time here or there. This is being built in Rochester, NY for any weather considerations. I stopped at a local brick store with my goals and they became stuck on mfg clearances on the product I already bought but I feel as thou those specs are not in-line with being placed in a firebox. So they then proceeded to show me their outdoor line from Hearth & Home starting at $3k and I still have to do all the work. I'm the type of guy who will spend less but buy the necessary tools I'll use once more in my lifetime(most tools do get more use than that) and take triple to quadruple the amount of time to complete said project. However I love being able to look back and say I did that and I was able to buy a higher end product because I provided the labor.
Plans:
Building a firebox with firebrick splits, figured I was really tight on space. Firebrick ontop of cement board, ontop of wood framing
Firebox shape to not include a flue and just arch out towards the front (maximize heat output towards seating)
White Stucco rendering over the privacy wall
Flush mounting adjustable regulator + key
Bought this before I was really thinking but just to try and get moving with things. Seems like this might not be the proper product for my plans? - Skyflame drop in fire pit pan
Questions:
"Firebrick ontop of cement board, ontop of wood framing" Is this even right? I keep seeing conflicting posts on the internet
Am I still on the right path here? Skyflame has "fireplace" burners if those are more appropriate or should I be buying an outdoor wall insert and forgo my firebrick firebox?
If insert, recommendations? I'm seeing as low as $800 but up to and beyond $6k like wtf kind of range is that? idk why but my brain is having trouble shopping this.
Possible answers to questions you may have to help me out:
No it doesn't have to be Skyflame brand.
I'm not limited by my "rear" dimensions of the privacy wall. I'm willing to overhang or frame it out further if need to make the firebox bigger
I'm not opposed to a flue/chimney set up, just would prefer a slim wall and max heat output forward
I'm not against building a cinderblock base from the ground up. I'd need to modify my rim joist on my deck a little. and obviously this is even more work so I'd rather not go this route but If I had to I would.
Images for reference: Not to scale
![[Hearth.com] Deck privacy wall, adding a NG fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/pxl_20250614_152443561-webp.339163/ "[Hearth.com] Deck privacy wall, adding a NG fireplace")
![[Hearth.com] Deck privacy wall, adding a NG fireplace](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/pxl_20250614_130658954-webp.339164/ "[Hearth.com] Deck privacy wall, adding a NG fireplace")
*** The bush you see in the photo is being cut back 50% all around. If it lives, it lives, if not I get my wish and it goes completely :D
In above my head? Doubtful, just haven't fully learned yet and looking for some help from those with experience and knowledge.
Jack of all trades, master of none. I built my partial inground pool 2 years ago and just wrapping up my deck. Over the winter built a nice in-wall perfume shelf with COB LED front lighting, and I'll need to pull my 02 f150 HD motor as I was running a tune on a smaller pulley and decided beating my friends WRX was paramount in too cold of weather and the bottom end let go. Point being? I'm not afraid to tackle anything but I like doing things the right way and well that takes time to learn so I'm trying to crash course this fireplace with your help!
Goal:
NG fireplace into a privacy wall on a deck ~3 feet off the ground. This is for the wife and I to sit enjoy some warmth outdoors in a nice setting for a short period of time here or there. This is being built in Rochester, NY for any weather considerations. I stopped at a local brick store with my goals and they became stuck on mfg clearances on the product I already bought but I feel as thou those specs are not in-line with being placed in a firebox. So they then proceeded to show me their outdoor line from Hearth & Home starting at $3k and I still have to do all the work. I'm the type of guy who will spend less but buy the necessary tools I'll use once more in my lifetime(most tools do get more use than that) and take triple to quadruple the amount of time to complete said project. However I love being able to look back and say I did that and I was able to buy a higher end product because I provided the labor.
Plans:
Building a firebox with firebrick splits, figured I was really tight on space. Firebrick ontop of cement board, ontop of wood framing
Firebox shape to not include a flue and just arch out towards the front (maximize heat output towards seating)
White Stucco rendering over the privacy wall
Flush mounting adjustable regulator + key
Bought this before I was really thinking but just to try and get moving with things. Seems like this might not be the proper product for my plans? - Skyflame drop in fire pit pan
Questions:
"Firebrick ontop of cement board, ontop of wood framing" Is this even right? I keep seeing conflicting posts on the internet
Am I still on the right path here? Skyflame has "fireplace" burners if those are more appropriate or should I be buying an outdoor wall insert and forgo my firebrick firebox?
If insert, recommendations? I'm seeing as low as $800 but up to and beyond $6k like wtf kind of range is that? idk why but my brain is having trouble shopping this.
- I don't want stainless steel, black preferred.
- Slim facia or the ability to take the inside box edge right to my white stucco wall rendering
- Prefer darker liner
Possible answers to questions you may have to help me out:
No it doesn't have to be Skyflame brand.
I'm not limited by my "rear" dimensions of the privacy wall. I'm willing to overhang or frame it out further if need to make the firebox bigger
I'm not opposed to a flue/chimney set up, just would prefer a slim wall and max heat output forward
I'm not against building a cinderblock base from the ground up. I'd need to modify my rim joist on my deck a little. and obviously this is even more work so I'd rather not go this route but If I had to I would.
Images for reference: Not to scale
*** The bush you see in the photo is being cut back 50% all around. If it lives, it lives, if not I get my wish and it goes completely :D
In above my head? Doubtful, just haven't fully learned yet and looking for some help from those with experience and knowledge.
