Ideally, fireplaces in the garden are built from refractory bricks. However, not all stones are suitable for this, since some types are not heat-resistant and burst at high temperatures. This applies above all to aerated concrete blocks (Ytong), limestone, sandstone or pebbles, which is why these have no place directly in the fire.
Bricks work well for the fireplace
The best refractory bricks for the fireplace
However, there are a number of types of refractory stone, most of which are artificial stones. These have often been fired at high temperatures and are therefore extremely fire-resistant from the outset. Natural stones such as granite and basalt, on the other hand, tend to absorb moisture over time. This in turn can be problematic, because the combination of moisture and fire often leads to veritable rock explosions in the fire. If you want to be on the safe side, use such stones only to surround the fireplace.
bricks or bricks
Extremely high temperatures are required for the production of bricks or bricks, so these bricks can withstand temperatures of up to 1000 °C. In addition, they do not store any heat, which is why it is difficult for a fire that has already been extinguished to ignite spontaneously (e.g. through unnoticed embers that are still present). Thanks to their even, rectangular shape, they are also very easy to install. If you choose bricks with the highest possible aluminum oside content, then they are even more heat-resistant. Their disadvantage is their low strength: bricks break easily.
firebrick
Fireclay bricks are made of refractory, ceramic material and are manufactured specifically for use in fireplaces or furnaces. This also makes them perfect for building a fire pit, especially underground. Fireclay bricks are mainly available in flat slabs, which are great for use in the fireplace. For the border of the fire, on the other hand, you can use more visually appealing types of rock.
clinker
Thanks to their heat resistance at temperatures of up to 1300 °C, clinker bricks or hard burnt bricks, as they are also known, are perfect for both the base and the surround of a fireplace. They are also available in many different pretty colors, which can be used to build attractive fireplaces. Another plus is the fact that clinker bricks hardly absorb any water and therefore do not burst.
tips
Care should also be taken with shaped stones (such as many paving stones): These are often made of non-refractory natural stone and can therefore only be used as a border.