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Crackling, flickering fire creates campfire romance not only in summer: since ancient times, people have liked to gather around an open fire, which promises warmth and protection. That's why a campfire not only brightens up mild summer nights, but also extends the garden and barbecue season by a few weeks. After all, it is still possible to endure such a heat source in late autumn or early spring.

Metal devices offer the possibility of a mobile fireplace

Before building, take a look at the municipal code

However, the construction of a fireplace is not always permitted. In particular, before building a fixed, for example brick fireplace, you should first take a look at the municipal regulations or ask the responsible building authority - especially if you have neighbors in the immediate vicinity. Anyone who owns an allotment garden, on the other hand, should first take a close look at the lease agreement or the allotment garden regulations of their association: Many allotment garden associations forbid the construction of a fireplace, usually due to the close proximity to the neighbors. They could feel disturbed by the smoke development.

What to look out for when burning wood in the garden

When burning wood in the garden, it is also important to follow certain rules. These are for your own safety - after all, an open fire, no matter how romantic it may be, always represents a security risk - and to preserve the peace of the neighbors.

What not to do when burning wood in the fireplace

Under no circumstances should you burn wet and/or fresh wood. This creates a lot of smoke, which in turn annoys the neighbors and can also get you in trouble with the local fire department. In most municipal ordinances, the burning of such wood is therefore prohibited or restricted to certain months of the year (e.g. from March 1st to March 31st). Other rules for burning wood in your own garden are:

  • no fire in strong winds: Sparks can be blown away here, which can set neighboring houses on fire.
  • no burning of plywood or other treated wood (e.g. varnished, painted or tar-treated wood): formation of toxic gases
  • no use of petrol or other fire accelerants: risk of injury!
  • Wood from the forest may only be felled or collected with the permission of the forester or the municipality

How to do it right

  • Only burn well-seasoned, dried and untreated wood
  • Suitable types of wood: Logs, briquettes, dry twigs and brushwood, dry cones, dry branches or even individual tree trunks (so-called Swedish fire)
  • Always pile up wood just before lighting it: Hedgehogs and other small animals like to hide in it, which you would then burn with them.
  • Pay attention to a safe location: make the subsoil fire-proof with sand and stones
  • no combustible materials, trees or wooden shacks/houses within 50 meters
  • an equally large safety distance to the neighbors must also be maintained
  • Never let the fire burn unattended!
  • Have extinguishing media (e.g. a bucket of water or a box of sand) ready.
  • Extinguish fire completely when leaving - do not leave embers!

What types of fireplaces are suitable for the garden?

When it comes to fireplaces, there are many different design options: Small or large, brick or mobile fire basket, made of ceramics, used bricks or other stones, made of metal, glass or as an upcycling project with materials such as old car tires or wheel rims. We have summarized a few ideas for you in the following table:

Permanently installed / mobile type of fireplace Suitable materials benefits What needs to be considered
permanently installed bricked various stones: quarry stones, fireclay, bricks, paving stones, granite, clinker… Free design of the fireplace, matching the garden design only use refractory bricks: otherwise they will shatter in the heat
permanently installed Garden oven, brick barbecue with fireplace different stones Multi-purpose use possible, commercially available as a kit Observe building regulations, pay attention to fireproof materials when building your own
permanently installed open campfire sheltered, open area in large gardens Campfire romance, set up quickly Prepare the ground to make it fire-proof, set up a stone boundary
mobile swedish fire split log or log, at least 50 centimeters in diameter natural variant of a fire bowl Use coniferous wood, dispose of leftovers that have cooled down in organic waste
mobile fire bowls or baskets Metal, ceramic, sometimes glass Can be set up individually, usually no approval required only set up on suitable, fireproof surfaces, never on grass
permanently installed / mobile gas fireplace metal or glass Fire at the push of a button, without wood Table fireplaces are not suitable for grilling

Fixed fireplaces

Brick fireplaces in the garden can be designed in many different ways: for example, made of fine natural stone or refractory, old bricks. You can either plan such a place flat on the ground and place seating around it, or embed the fire pit in a recess in the ground. In this case, steps can be installed around the fire, which can also serve as seating.

Mobile fireplaces

Fire baskets or bowls usually do not require official approval, but like fixed fireplaces they must be set up on a secure surface. This is especially true if they are open on the sides or at the bottom, allowing embers to escape. Stone substrates are best.

tips

Many commercially available fire baskets or bowls can also be converted into grills by simply putting on a suitable grate.

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