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Why You Should Add a Wood Fired Oven to Your Outdoor Living Space

Creating the ultimate dream backyard living space is one of our specialties at IBD Outdoor Rooms. From outdoor fireplaces to outdoor kitchen islands, we can design and build the perfect outdoor spot for your home. When we have customers who are planning their outdoor kitchens as well as customers who want to update their current outdoor kitchen area, one feature we recommend installing is a wood fired oven component that will be custom built to fit the oven of your choice. After you select your oven, it will be sent to IBD Outdoor Rooms to be installed into the component and then shipped to you in one contained unit. We would like to share with you why you should consider equipping your outdoor kitchen, patio, or deck with a wood fired oven.

What is the history of the wood fired oven?

According to The Alternative Daily, many different cultures have used wood fired ovens since ancient times, but the most famous ovens are the ones that were designed by the ancient Romans. Still found in homes across Italy, these wood fired ovens resemble a large round chamber with an opening in the front for venting. These ovens are constructed from stone or terra cotta brick.

I know I can make great pizza in a wood fired oven. What other foods can I cook in this type of oven?

You can cook just about anything in a wood fired oven. This type of oven is great for baking bread, roasting chicken, meat, and vegetables, and baking casseroles

Why is pizza so good when it is baked in a wood fired oven?

The secret has to do with the high temperatures achieved in a wood fired oven. A wood fired oven can get as hot as 700 degrees, and this allows rapid rise spring to the dough. This rapid rise produces a crust with dimension and structure. If you like your pizza crust to be crispy yet tender, you will love being able to bake pizza in your new outdoor wood fired oven.

What is the best advantage of using a wood fired oven?

According to many renowned chefs all over the world, the greatest benefit of roasting and baking anything in a wood fired oven is the even distribution of high heat. A metal oven can only get as hot as 500 degrees, and, even worse, it cannot retain that heat because the heat gets reflected off the walls. A wood fired oven that is constructed from clay, brick, ceramic, or tile can keep temperatures up to 700 degrees and will radiate these high temperatures evenly over time. The evenness of the heat distribution adds to the flavor of what is being baked or roasted.

What are other advantages to using a wood fired oven?

Other than giving food an enhanced flavor, wood fired ovens give you versatility, ambiance, and reliability. Your friends and family will enjoy the complete sensory experience of sitting by the stove while your food is cooking.

If you are interested in adding a wood fired oven to your outdoor living space, contact IBD Outdoor Rooms. We can help you make this project a success.

What Exactly Is a Quick Chase?

At IBD Outdoor Rooms, we specialize in adding to the beauty of the exterior of your home. Of course, we are known for creating outdoor living spaces such as outdoor kitchens and fireplaces; however, our design team is always thinking of ways to increase the curb appeal of a home. One of these ways is our quick chase system. An idea developed by our designers, the quick chase can be the perfect answer to unsightly rooftop pipes. We would like to tell you more about our quick chase system and how it can easily upgrade the exterior appearance of your home.

What is a quick chase?

A quick chase is a design concept developed by IBD Outdoor Rooms that simulates the look of a masonry chimney. The quick chase system can be used in several different ways, which include as a part of a appliance retrofit installation, as a way to enclose an unattractive metal flue pipe, as a replacement of a rotted wood chase system, and as a factory-built chase system in new construction.

How is the quick chase constructed?

We use our 22-gauge galvanized metal flashing to construct the quick chase, and then the metal flashing is covered with a half-inch concrete board. At an additional charge, you can upgrade from galvanized metal to stainless steel. The flashing is built into the chase, attached to the framing members, and inserted behind the concrete board. We can also construct a chase cover to prevent water from leaking into the home. Chase covers are available in hot-dip galvanized metal, paint-dip galvanized metal, powder-coated, stainless steel, and copper.

Can the quick chase system be customized?

While IBD Outdoor Rooms does sell a 2-part system in bulk that comes with a pitch adaptor that is easily bolted to the chase and adjusted for common roof pitches, we can also custom build our quick change system. The installer will predetermine the pitch of the roof, the outside dimensions of the quick chase, the height of the quick chase, and the size and projection of the top band that will be built into the quick chase.

In what materials can the quick chase be finished?

Our quick chases can be covered in the weatherproof materials of your choice. Whether you would like veneer stone, veneer brick, stucco, or siding, you have any option of material that is designed to withstand the outdoor elements.

Can I install the quick chase system myself?

For safety reasons, the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) Standard 211 code recommends professional installation of chimney venting systems. IBD Outdoor Rooms is happy to help you find a certified technician near you to install your quick chase system.

Have more questions about the quick chase system? Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms to find out more information about our product.

Why You Should Consider a Decorative Mailbox

Have you noticed and admired stately stone mailboxes in your neighborhood? You can also have one of these attractive and impressive mailboxes created especially for you by IBD Outdoor Rooms. Our standard mailbox post meets all Department of Transportation and United States Postal Service requirements and features a paper or package slot. One of the best things about a decorative mailbox from IBD Outdoor Rooms is its unique mounting system that is designed to shear away if a vehicle should hit the mailbox at high speed. Required in many areas, this “break-a-way” feature will save you from extensive property damage if such an incident were to occur. We would like to share with you some of the other benefits of having a decorative mailbox to inform you of why you should consider contacting us to build one of these custom-made masonry mailboxes in your yard.

A decorative mailbox instantly improves the curb appeal of your home.

A simple and plain mailbox just is not very interesting or attractive. In fact, an old or damaged mailbox can even detract from the overall appearance of your property. A decorative stone mailbox constructed by IBD Outdoor Rooms not only improves the curb appeal of your house and property, but it also can add to the value of your home.

A decorative mailbox allows you to stand out from your neighbors.

If you live on a street where everyone has a standard mailbox, why not stand out from your neighbors with a distinctive decorative mailbox? The basic manufactured mailbox can give a generic appearance to your street, and, let’s face it, no one wants to be considered as generic. IBD Outdoor Rooms will give you a unique look to your property with one of our custom-built decorative mailboxes. Additionally, your home will be much easier for your friends and family to locate if your mailbox stands out from your neighbors’ boring ones.

You can match the style of your home with a decorative mailbox.

Complimenting the style of your house with a decorative mailbox can give your entire property an upscale look. IBD Outdoor Rooms uses architectural detailing, antique finishes, and other features to coordinate a decorative mailbox with your home. This attention to detail is one of the many reasons IBD Outdoor Rooms is the perfect company to create a complete look to your entire property.

A decorative mailbox allows you to express your personal tastes.

Since IBD Outdoor Rooms customizes our decorative mailboxes, we can work with you on the design to express your personality and tastes. The benefit of having a decorative mailbox can inspire you to create a unique mailbox that will not only stand out from your neighbors, but will also satisfy your own personal creative expression.

Interested in learning more about our decorative mailboxes? Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms to discover how you can have your own unique mailbox to increase the value of your home.

Start Planning Your Outdoor Kitchen Today

Even though we know spring will eventually be here, the winter months can feel even longer, especially if you are an outdoor person. Why not take advantage of this time to plan your dream outdoor kitchen and living space? At IBD Outdoor Rooms, we specialize in creating and designing outdoor kitchens that can suit every need and fit every budget. To help you get started with your outdoor kitchen plans, we wanted to share with you some planning tips from HGTV that can organize your desires.

Question Yourself

During your first stages of planning your outdoor living space, think about what you want and need from your outdoor kitchen. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How often will I cook outside?
• What are my grill options? Propane, natural gas, or charcoal?
• What foods do I want to cook outside?
• What do I want to store in my outdoor kitchen? Grilling tools, plates, entertainment equipment?
• Do I want my outdoor kitchen to include a dining and entertainment area?
• Would I like to be able to wash my hands and/or dishes outside?
• Will I need a space for a refrigerator?
• Do I want my outdoor kitchen to be close to the house or a separate space?

Decide Where the Outdoor Kitchen Will Be Located

Many of our customers at IBD Outdoor Rooms choose to place their new outdoor kitchen adjacent to their homes. Your house provides a natural shelter as the walls of your house protect your appliances from the sun and wind. It is also very simple to extend a roof overhang to protect your outdoor kitchen from rain and snow. If you are on a strict budget, it is much less expensive to run utility lines from your home to your outdoor kitchen. However, you may want to place your outdoor kitchen further away from your house, especially if you are considering building a fully-equipped kitchen. No matter where you decide to build your new outdoor living space, you should be sure to check your local building codes to see what exactly you can and cannot do. Our staff at IBD Outdoor Rooms can help you with these details.

Maximize Your Outdoor Kitchen Layout

Now that you have decided on its location, you can begin to plan exactly how you want your outdoor kitchen to look. Similar to indoor kitchen layouts, your outdoor kitchen configuration will depend on its site, how much space you have, your cooking style, and your budget. While you can choose a straight line kitchen built up against a wall or a U-shaped layout that mimics an indoor kitchen, IBD Outdoor Rooms specializes in installing outdoor kitchen islands. A natural entertaining focal point, an outdoor kitchen island combines all of your cooking appliances into one area. We can customize an island to suit your specific needs. We can also assist you with choosing your cabinets, countertops, and flooring. And, you can leave all of the utility planning and design to us.

Ready to start planning your dream outdoor kitchen? Click here to contact IBD Outdoor Rooms to consult with our staff concerning your plans.

Go with Gas for Your Outdoor Fireplace

If you are planning to enhance your backyard with an outdoor fireplace, we at IBD Outdoor Rooms would like to tell you why we recommend installing a gas-fueled fireplace. Although a wood-burning fireplace is less expensive to install, the disadvantages to having one outside can outweigh the initial cost. Wood-burning fireplaces involve a lot of cleaning chores, including removing ashes from the firebox, sweeping up the residue of ashes and embers outside the fireplace, and professional sweeping of the chimney to remove hazardous and combustible creosote deposits. With a gas fireplace, you will not have to spend so much time cleaning. And, if you already have a gas line connected to your home, the installation of a gas fireplace will not be so expensive. Here is why we feel a gas-fueled appliance is the best choice for your outdoor fireplace.

The Convenience of a Gas-Fueled Outdoor Fireplace

As mentioned above, one of the major benefits of a gas fireplace over a wood-burning one is not having a list of cleaning chores before, during, and after a fire. You will not have to waste energy by hauling firewood to the fire to get your flame going because all you will have to do with a gas fireplace is push a button or flip a lever to ignite a fire. With a wood-burning outdoor fireplace, you can spend a lot of time building and trying to light a fire. If you install a gas outdoor fireplace, you will not have to worry about losing time in front of the fire because it is so easy to start, even on a windy day.

The Environmentally-Friendly Nature of a Gas Outdoor Fireplace

In some cities, you cannot even burn a wood fire outdoors because of its pollution-filled smoke. With a gas-fueled fireplace, you will have a clean burning fire with few emissions. Additionally, since a gas fire produces very little smoke, you and your family and friends will not have to deal with breathing in a lot of smoke. If you have ever sat around a wood-burning fire outside, you know how much smoke it produces and how a lot of that smoke can end up blowing towards you. You do not have to worry about your clothes smelling like a campfire when you sit around a gas-fueled outdoor fireplace.

The Easy Maintenance of a Gas Outdoor Fireplace

Since no wood is involved, you will not have to be concerned with large deposits of creosote forming and sticking to the walls of your inner chimney. A highly flammable compound, creosote develops naturally as part of the wood-burning process. With a gas outdoor fireplace, you will not have to worry about scheduling multiple professional chimney cleanings to remove creosote. However, IBD Outdoor Rooms does recommend you have your gas fireplace system inspected and serviced once a year.

The Options of a Gas Outdoor Fireplace

If you do not have a natural gas connection at your home, you do have another option. Propane gas fireplaces are ideal for the outdoors, and according to HGTV, a propane fireplace is more efficient and can be moved to different locations. IBD Outdoor Rooms help you decide if a natural gas or propane fireplace is a better choice for you.

Have questions about installing a gas outdoor fireplace? Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms to find out more about the ease and convenience of a gas-fueled fireplace.