How To Choose A Chimenea

A chimenea in the garden has over recent years become a common sight, as they are great decorative features, and also provide a source of heat and light if barbecuing, socialising, cooking or setting off fireworks (in the colder months) in the garden. 

Before researching into chimenea’s though I was not aware of the vast selection there is though, and I was also surprised at the range of materials they come in too. Due to the large array of chimenea’s available I’m going to provide the pros and cons of owning a clay, cast iron or steel chimenea, these should help someone when considering what type of chimenea is for you.

First off we have the classic clay chimenea; these chimenea’s are what I would expect to see when imagining about a chimenea. These chimenea’s are for someone who likes either a classic look, or a highly decorated look. The styles and variations of clay chimenea’s are vast and have a more organic feel when in the garden. Made from clay these chimenea’s arrive to your garden ready to operate with no assembly needs, the biggest concern is lifting it into a stand and how to light a fire (which shouldn’t concern you for long!).
The down side to a clay chimenea is that they may crack if left out in freezing conditions, and they won’t like being knocked around. In both cases the chimenea may crack and that’s the end of that. If you want a roaring fire like a furnace then a sturdier material would be recommended. Which brings me nicely on to the next material:

Cast iron chimenea’s allow a furnace type of fire and they’ll burn pretty much any fuel you desire, they look and are sturdy object, heavy and will last for years. Cast Iron chimenea’s, as a rule, have much less decorative features, which is subjective to individual taste of course. Once you find a place for a cast iron chimenea the likely hood is it will stay there, due to their weight and shape they are difficult to manoeuvre and will require assembly in the garden. There is a risk of rust affecting a cast iron chimenea, however many let them rust as it make a more organic look to the item, but that’s a preference thing again.
 

Steel chimenea’s look manufactured, crisp, and clean, and appear more modern/contemporary then other materials. Much lighter than cast iron and can easily be moved around the garden (or home......but more on that later!). Obviously with all chimenea’s the item itself heats up and may become extremely hot, this happens quickly with a steel chimenea, and it cools much quicker than clay and cast iron too, meaning you can monitor who is near it and when they are near it more accurately (keep pets, children and mentally infirm clear when hot).
Negatives to a steel chimenea include they have to be assembled and they may be prone to rust over time, their look goes for them and against, all depending on the environment they are to be placed.

Chimeneas are great additions to garden, but in more recent times they have become great additions to the home too. Many homes make features in the kitchen, conservatory or fireplace with them, bio ethanol burners and fuel may be used in them and due to the nature of bio ethanol no fumes are emitted thus no flue required. This means chimenea’s may be brought in for the winter months, or have a permanent place in your homes for years to come as a focal point or feature.

Although chimenea’s have been around for years, we expect them to become even more popular over the next few years. Many thanks for the images and information supplied largely by Gardeco, chimenea specialists.