Our Company Blog
Fire Pits for Fall
Fall has finally officially arrived and the temperatures and turning-leaves are proof. Whether you live on the east coast, the west coast, or anywhere in between, fall is the time when people move outside. In the mountains or on the beach, we are drawn outside to relax, explore, and entertain. Barbecue cookouts are replaced by backyard bonfires, and cool evenings are for s’mores with the kids, wine or coffee with friends, and a crackling fire to bring it all together. Is your fire pit ready for fall? Make sure your home has the perfect outdoor space with a new fall fire pit.
Gas Fire Pits for Fall
Gas is a popular fuel source not just for indoor fireplaces and stoves, but also outside fire pits and fireplaces. Our gas fire pits are custom-designed for you. IBD Outdoor Rooms actually specializes in custom gas fire pits, and when you start with us, the planning, design, and shipment are seamless. Gas fire pits offer many benefits that other outdoor fire options don’t. Your gas fire pit can be ignited and extinguished immediately when necessary. Don’t fumble with kindling or matches. Your fire can burst to life with the press of a button—even with a remote in some cases. Your gas fire will need no oversight. Once it’s lit, just sit back and enjoy.
The only task now is to get from here to there—design, shipment, and installation.
Designing Your Gas Fire Pit
All of IBD’s fire pit housings are made of fully welded corrosion-resistant frames and ½ cement board covering. They are shipped ready-to-finish and should be installed by a licensed contractor in your area.
- IBD’s most popular design is the octagonal fire pit housing. It comes sizes ranging from 36 to 72 inches across to fit burners of 19 or 25 inches. This is a great option for any space and allows for 360-degree seating.
- A great option for a space of any size is the classic round fire pit housing. It stands at 18 inches tall and includes two stainless steel vents for optimal fuel efficiency. The round housing comes in a variety of sizes from 36 to 72 inches across and works with 19 and 25-inch burners. We also have an oval fire pit housing for longer spaces with available space.
- For more intimate spaces and for use as a coffee table, the square fire pit housing is a popular option. There are two sizes of the square fire pit, 36 inches across with a 19-inch burner and a 48-inch fire pit with a 25-inch burner.
- Also available in two sizes, the wedge fire pit housing is perfect for a corner installation. This option can allow you to utilize a small space and still make seating possible.
- For outdoor spaces next to squarely-shaped pools, spas, and patios, you may prefer a rectangular fire pit housing. We have those too, available in a variety of sizes and burner designs.
- For a classic look, you can choose the Stratford or Pedestal fire pit housing which is available in sizes large and small. The Pedestal fire pit is our tallest, standing at 42.5 inches tall.
Contact Us
No matter the size or shape of your space, we can help you pick out a fall fire pit. Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms to design yours.
Ready for an Outdoor Makeover? We Have Tips!
Year after year, homeowners across the U.S. decide to upgrade and makeover their homes for efficiency and style. Whether you’re looking to upgrade to sell or just to enjoy, we have tips. After years of designing, manufacturing, and building outdoor rooms, we have seen our fair share of good and bad ideas. Let an outdoor room expert help you get started with your new upgrade.
Start at the End
The best way to start the design for your new outdoor space is to envision what you would like in the end. Is it something that you can D-I-Y? Is it a complicated install that requires a professional hire? These are things to think about as you begin to browse our products and designs. Consider the type of space you would like first, including the walls, structure, appliances, necessities, and more. If you need electricity in your outdoor kitchen, consider where you’d like the outlets. If you prefer a basic fire pit over a gas unit, consider where you’d like to stack wood, where the smoke will settle, what type of seating is safest near open flames. Once you have an idea of what you’d like your outdoor space to look like and what you’d like it to do for you, it’s time to talk to a contractor.
Hire a Certified Contractor
Whether your project is big or small, it’s important to get the right help. Your municipal codes may require you to hire a certified contractor even for minor renovations and constructions. Find out from your city authorities first, then look for contractors that are specifically trained and certified for your needs. For instance, if your install includes a fire appliance of some kind, you should have it installed by a National Fire Institute (NFI) certified chimney and fireplace technician. This will not only protect your property but also your investment and maybe even your life. Our products, including structures, are incredibly easy to construct. They’re shipped to your door with clearly labeled parts and detailed instructions, however, they are best installed by a certified professional.
Let Your Imagination Run Wild
Visit our gallery to find some of our favorite projects. When it comes to outdoor spaces, the sky is the limit. Many homeowners design an outdoor space that complements the home, landscape, and their personality perfectly, and we can help. You can design a basic patio with a low wall and gas fireplace or an elaborate outdoor kitchen and tiki bar next to a kidney-shaped pool with a stone waterfall.
At IBD Outdoor Rooms it’s our goal to turn your fantasy into reality, and we can get started as soon as you get started.
Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms
We can help you design your dream space today. Call 704-960-4530, contact us online or stop by our showroom at 184 Academy Ave., Concord, North Carolina.
Summer Recipes for Your Outdoor Kitchen
You’re in the thick of summer and while the days are hot, the evenings can be great with the right people, the right space, and the right food! This summer, make sure you make the most of your space and kitchen by cooking the best for your family and guests. Whether your choice for outdoor cuisine is a stovetop or a grill, we can help you find your favorites.
Seasonal Cooking
Something that many chefs through the years have begun doing is shopping and cooking for the season. Not only are the groceries and ingredients cheaper when they are in season, but they are usually fresher, tastier, and more natural. During the summer, you can find many fruits and vegetables in season. Many of the in seasons vegetables and fruits are on sale at farmers markets across the country, fresh-picked, and ready to use in your summer dishes.
The vegetables that are in season this summer is radishes, cucumbers, beets, carrots, corn, garlic, rhubarb, arugula, bell peppers, and zucchini. The fruits that are in season this summer are lemon, passion fruit, peaches, nectarines, cherries, apricots, plums, blackberries, strawberries, tomatoes, melons, and limes.
Recipes to Try
You can utilize some of the best summer ingredients in your outdoor kitchen this summer. This grilled corn fritter recipe can help you work through your corn this summer (because at summer prices, there’s just too much corn!). These corn fritters fry great in a cast iron, or they can bake inside tin foil on the grill. If some of your guests still prefer corn on the cob, wrap them with your favorite herbs, a slice of bacon, or just a pat of butter with pepper and salt, and grill for a few minutes while wrapped tightly in tin foil. If you wrap your corn in bacon, make sure you cook it long enough to thoroughly cook the bacon.
Step outside the box by offering your guests something new and exotic this summer. A great entre that works well with grill strip zucchini is Korean chicken breasts on the grill. For a total prep time of just 1 hour and 20 minutes, you won’t keep your guests waiting. This mouth-watering dish offers a surprising alternative to the usual chicken legs and burgers for outside parties.
Desserts to Try
No meal is quite complete without dessert, and there is no better time to use berries than in the summer! Are you really a “grill master” if you’ve never made a pie on your grill? This grilled berry pie works best with fresh berries and peaches. You can make your own crust or use a store-bought one. With a little magic from your backyard grill, you can offer your guests and family a sweet treat that’s also beautiful when grilled just right!
This summer while you’re enjoying your outdoor space and outdoor kitchen, don’t settle for the same old barbecue menu as everyone else on your block. You can use your gas or charcoal grill, pizza oven, Big Green Egg, or stovetop to work magic this summer. Not sure you have everything you need to make your outdoor space everything it could be? We can help. Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms at 704-960-4530 or contact us online today.
We Have Certified Contractors & NFI-Certification
At IBD Outdoor Rooms, our task and goal are to turn fantasy into reality. We are proud to help our customers with their outdoor patios, kitchens, gardens, and yards year-round by bringing these spaces to life and adding value to each property with exceptional products. IBD Outdoor Rooms specializes in designing outdoor spaces that are functional and long-lasting and that complement the home and landscape. We make the products, ship them out ready-to-build, and depend on certified contractors and professionals to put these products together. Our customers should find a certified contractor to install their new products in order for them to be installed safely and properly.
Certified Professionals for Safe Installations
When building a new structure, moving and setting up expensive appliances, and installing fireplaces, fire pits, and wood fire ovens and more, it’s important to hire a certified professional. Contractors that are NFI-certified have been trained and tested in fire science. These technicians can install fire appliances properly and safely in any space. This will protect your new investment, your existing home, and your family and guests. Having a certified professional install your new appliance will also maintain your warranties. Many manufacturers will not honor warranties after a unit has been installed or serviced by someone without the proper certifications and training. Fortunately, for homeowners across the U.S., the CSIA and NFI website allows for a search to find a certified technician in your area.
IBD Outdoor Rooms Certified Techs
IBD Outdoor Rooms now has certified installers including contractors and NFI-certified techs. Our customers can choose to work with one of our own professionals for the best installations and setup possible. Our technicians are familiar with our products and provide excellent services and the utmost professionalism. Whether your new install is a fireplace, a pergola, or a simple lamp post, one of our certified contractors can handle it. We sell and install new outdoor products year-round, but summer is the best time to complete the biggest jobs. Schedule with one of our contractors now so that you can have your dream outdoor space this summer.
IBD Outdoor Rooms Featured Products
Our favorite summertime shelter at IBD Outdoor Rooms is the pergola because of its function and beauty. Homeowners can enjoy shade during hot, sunny days, and still, stargaze on cool evenings. Other product favorites include kitchen islands, cabinets, shelters, wood-fired ovens, and more. Have a barbecue grill? We can build kitchen units that can cradle your favorite grills. They can include sinks, outdoor appliances, countertops, cabinets, and more. Don’t forget that these appliances, structures, and units should be built and installed by professionals too. Our customers trust us with their homes, their spaces, and their investments so you can trust our team of techs with your installs as well.
Call us at 704-960-4530 to start today!
Freshen Up Your Outdoor Living Space
Now is the time of year when homeowners are enjoying the outdoors, with barbecues, parties, bonfires and more. While you’re relaxing or entertaining in your outdoor space this summer, the last thing you want is for the party to be ruined by unsightly appliances, bothersome bugs, or overgrown plant life. By freshening up your outdoor space now, you can avoid some embarrassing mishaps later. Here are the best tips from our team at IBD Outdoor Rooms:
1. Update Lighting
You can prevent many issues simply by adding more light to your outdoor space. A firepit or porch light is not always adequate, and more light will deter animals, prevent accidental falls and injuries, and bring more comfort to your gathering in general. You can add light to your space by installing an IBD lamp post with a gas torch fire. Another option is to opt for a pergola instead of a roof over decks and patios, allowing moon and starlight to light your space.
2. Improve Function of the Space
You can improve the function of your outdoor living space by giving it more purpose. Your patio will lack purpose if there are too many types of furniture (swings, benches, seats), if there are no tables for food or drinks, if there are too many or not enough heat/fire/light options (focal points), and if there are too many or not enough activities for entertainment (games, etc.). You can improve your functionality by studying what you and your guests most like, and follow-through with improvements. If you most like to roast marshmallows, a porch swing is not the best seating. If there are many children, a low fire is not the best fire appliance. If you barbecue outside but have to move indoors to eat, consider installing a table in your outdoor space.
3. Maintain the Landscape
Whether you live in urban or rural areas, an unruly yard can bring a host of problems into your outdoor living space. Your guests may come for a good time, but will leave with itchy bug bites, or even worse. An unkempt lawn is welcoming to plant and animal life that may be Unwelcome, like poison ivy/sumac, wild animals and their droppings, and even snakes. Keep the lawn trimmed nicely, and consider planting some bug deterrents around your outdoor living area (lavender, lemongrass, citronella plants).
4. Plan for Year-Round Fun
Many homeowners want an outdoor space for spring, summer, and fall fun, but by planning now, and making necessary upgrades, you CAN enjoy your outdoor space during cold weather. If you already have a fireplace with high-heat output, consider adding a hot tub to your outdoor space. Patio heaters are also a great option, especially if your patio or deck feature walls or a roof. Just because warm weather will pass by doesn’t mean you can’t get use out of your outdoor living area all year long.
Are you still unsure how to upgrade your outdoor living area or how to go about it? At IBD Outdoor Rooms, we turn fantasy into reality, and we have a team member who can walk you through your vision, and get you on course to implement it. For the most recent inspirational patio ideas, click here.
