Have Rocks, Will Travel

While each project that we do is unique, The Backyard recently completed a fireplace that was out of the ordinary – by about 200 miles.
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​Customers Johnny McDonald and his wife, Barbara, contacted The Backyard to help them create an appealing outdoor living space at their Mirimar Beach, FL, property. They are building an event ready condo complex, complete with an amazing outdoor living space for their guests to enjoy.

Agreeing to do this job required a lot of advanced planning, including shipping over 23 tons of rock and materials from our Auburn location. Some of the items needed for this large scale project:

• A 48-inch, pre-engineered fire box (your normal fireplace is only about 30 inches)
• 20 tons of Tennessee Fieldstone
• 200 Bags of Mortar
• 36 Scaffold Frames
• Lift with 40 Foot Extension

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Each Backyard project is custom, based on each customer's budget and style. Jim and Barbara had a good idea of what they wanted: they contributed ideas and some of their own materials at the beginning of the project that were incorporated into the final design of the two-story chimney and fireplace.

• An old mill stone was used to create interest on the rear of the chimney
• Rocks from the family farm were used in the body of the fireplace and as focal point for the keystone over the firebox         

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The Backyard’s has a guiding principle: do one job at a time, and do it well. This belief was a key factor in our ability to complete the installation of this fireplace in only eight days. ​Our finished project is 36 feet tall, due to building safety codes: the chimney must be 4 feet higher than the roof and be more than 10 feet away from it. The hearth has a whopping 48-inch fire box, substantially larger than the average fireplace.

Even though our masonry contribution to the project is done, it will be exciting to continue to watch this design come together. The customers are adding a pool, pavilion and outdoor kitchen to their condo - check back for updates on the finished outdoor living space!