Why Fall Is the Best Time to Rethink Your Backyard
Ask anyone who has lived in Tarrant County for a few summers, and they'll tell you August is not patio weather. October is a different story. Once the triple digit days finally break, most of us want to be outside as much as possible, and the evenings from now through March are some of the nicest we get all year.
The trouble is that a lot of backyards aren't set up for it. A bare slab or a deck with a couple of chairs works fine on a warm afternoon, but it loses its appeal around 7 p.m. when the temperature dips and there's nowhere to cook for a crowd.
That's where two features come in. We hear about them constantly from homeowners in Arlington, Fort Worth, Keller, Colleyville, Haslet, and North Richland Hills: a fire pit or fireplace for chilly nights, and an outdoor kitchen for football season. Both can go on a patio. Both can go on a custom deck too, with the right planning, and that's a big part of what we want to cover here.
Fire Pit or Fireplace?
Here's the simple version. A fire pit brings people together around it. A fireplace gives them something to face.
Fire pits tend to be the more relaxed option. Pull up six Adirondack chairs, toss a few logs on, and the conversation pretty much takes care of itself. Ours are usually stone, brick or block, with a veneer chosen to go with the brick or siding on your home. Some clients prefer a gas fire table instead, which gives everyone a spot to set down a drink.
An outdoor fireplace is more of a permanent fixture. Think of it as the anchor wall of an outdoor room. You get a tall chimney, heat aimed right at the sofa, and a solid masonry wall that cuts the north wind in January. It also hides the neighbor's trampoline, which some folks count as a bonus. We often tuck fireplaces under a covered patio or a pergola, and the roof clearances get worked out on paper long before anyone lays a stone.
Wood or Gas?
There's nothing like a real wood fire in November. The smell alone is worth it for some people. But wood means hauling and storing logs, scooping ash, and keeping an eye on burn bans, which Texas counties put in place often during dry spells. Depending on the city, county regulations, and the fire feature's distance from structures, wood-burning fires may be restricted or prohibited altogether.
Gas is the opposite. Turn a valve or push a button and the flame is on; turn it off and you're done for the night. If you picture yourself using the fire on a random Tuesday after work, gas is probably the better fit.
Putting a Fire Feature on a Deck
This is the question we get most, and the answer depends on the surface.
Stone and pavers don't burn. A ground level patio can handle a wood burning pit or a full masonry fireplace without much fuss.
Wood and composite decking are another matter. One popping ember can scorch a board, and an open wood fire on a deck is a risk we generally steer clients away from. On a deck, we typically recommend a gas fire table or gas insert sitting on a noncombustible base, installed to the manufacturer's clearance requirements and local code.
One layout we really like: a deck right off the back door that steps down to a stone patio with the fire pit. You eat up top, then wander down to the fire. The flame stays on stone, and the deck stays safe. Look at our fire features gallery for projects along those lines or read more on our fire features page.
Outdoor Kitchens and At Home Tailgating
Around here, football doesn't wait for September. The Cowboys play preseason games at AT&T Stadium in August, Friday night lights take over every high school in the area, and Saturdays belong to college ball. Plenty of fans would rather skip the parking lot and host the tailgate at home.
An outdoor kitchen makes that a lot easier on whoever's cooking. Instead of running between the grill and the indoor fridge all game long, the cook stays outside with everybody else. Guests have somewhere to hang out, and nobody misses the big play because they went inside for more buns.
What a Game Day Kitchen Needs
Every kitchen we design is a little different, but for tailgating, these are the pieces people ask for most:
- A built-in grill big enough for your usual crowd
- Counter space on both sides of it (you'll want more than you think)
- An outdoor rated fridge or beverage cooler
- Bar seating with a view of the grill and the TV
- Weatherproof outlets for the television and a slow cooker or two
- Good lighting over the grill, since plenty of games run past dark
Got a brisket guy in the family? Then a smoker belongs on the list. Side burners are handy for queso and chili, and a pizza oven tends to win over the kids at halftime.
Decks and Outdoor Kitchens
Short answer: yes, when the deck is built for it. Patios are the classic spot and still a great one. The catch with decks is weight. A granite countertop, a masonry island, a grill and a full fridge add up to a lot more than a dining set, and the typical deck frame was never sized for that. When a kitchen is going on a deck, we beef up the framing from the start, and we're picky about grill location, with plenty of room between the flame and your siding or railing.
One more tip, whichever surface you pick. Figure out where gas, power and water will run before construction starts. Running a gas line after the deck is finished is a headache nobody wants.
Start Now, Grill in August
Fall might seem like an odd time to think about next football season. Honestly, it's ideal. Between design meetings, the city permit, waiting on materials and the build itself, a kitchen project takes longer than most people guess. Get the ball rolling this fall or winter and you'll be flipping burgers well before the Cowboys take the field for their first preseason game next August. No scrambling, and no half-finished countertop when guests show up.
Making Both Work in One Backyard
Doing both at once? Good, because they should be designed together. We usually put the kitchen near the back door, since gas and electric are closer there, and push the fire pit out toward the yard. Dinner happens by the house; afterward everyone drifts out to the fire. Just leave a walkway between them. Otherwise, you'll have a guest parked in front of the grill every time you need to flip something.
A few other things we talk through with every client:
- Shade. Early season games are brutal at 3 p.m. in Texas. A covered patio, porch roof or pergola over the kitchen helps a lot.
- Wind. Nobody wants a face full of smoke. Before we place the grill or the fire, we look at how the breeze tends to move across your lot.
- Materials. North Texas sun is hard on everything. Composite boards, natural stone and pavers age differently out here, and we'll be upfront about the pros and cons of each.
- The TV. A screen that looks great at noon can be nearly unreadable at 5 o'clock. We plan around where the sun sets.
It all starts with a conversation in your backyard. Our design and build process kicks off with a consultation at your house: we walk the yard, ask how you like to entertain, and sketch from there. Still collecting ideas? Grab our free design guide.
Ready When You Are
Cool nights by the fire. Wings on the grill during the second quarter. Those are the evenings a good deck or patio is made for, and with the right features you'll get them from October well into spring.
We're Archadeck of Northeast Fort Worth, and we design and build decks, patios and outdoor living spaces across Arlington, Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Fort Worth, Haltom City, Haslet, Hurst, Keller and North Richland Hills (plus a few more service areas). If you'd like to see our work first, the photo gallery is a good place to start, and our financing options are worth a look too. When you're ready, reach out online or give us a call at (817) 587-0059. The design consultation is complimentary.
