FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where can I put a King of Hearths outdoor fireplace?

Our fireplaces make a great addition or main feature for your outdoor stone patio, kitchen or other entertaining areas. As the name implies, these fireplaces are for outdoor use only and should not be put in any structure or under any covering.

How much space is required for an outdoor fireplace?

A clear area of eight feet around the chimney cap and four feet around the firebox opening should be maintained. No combustible materials should be within this area including tree branches above, wood decking, dry grass or furniture.

Do I need a frost foundation under my fireplace?

No. King of Hearths fireplaces is precast in high-strength, lightweight concrete so there are no joints to shift or crack during natural temperature expansion and contraction movements. All that is required is a six-inch thick precast or poured concrete pad or hearth.

Can I purchase a hearth along with my fireplace?

Yes. King of Hearths makes quality hearth pads to go with your fireplace. Ask your dealer which pad is right for your fireplace.

How do I set up my fireplace?

We strongly recommend having a landscaping professional with proper equipment to install your fireplace. Simply remove the chimney from inside the firebox. Move the fireplace on its shipping pallet next to the slab or hearth where it will be placed. Use a forklift to gently lift and set the fireplace in the center of the slab. Once in place, center the chimney over the opening at the top of the firebox. No mortaring is necessary. When finishing your fireplace with stone, brick or stucco simply cover the joints to secure the chimney in place. Add a spark arrester to the chimney to protect against flying sparks and keep leaves, branches and other foreign materials out of the fireplace and chimney.

For more information, see the installation and operation guide>

Do I need to install protective fire brick in the firebox?

No. All King of Hearths fireplaces come with fire brick pre-installed. Fire brick is a specially designed material that can withstand extreme heat and protect the precast concrete form, extending the life of your fireplace.

Can I add my stone, brick or stucco facing right away?

Since all materials, including concrete, react to heat, we recommend building a few fires in your new fireplace to temper the materials. This should be done after you install a chimney cap/spark arrester and before you add your facing. This process will help bring the materials to a near-final state and help avoid any further settling or heat stress.

Do I need a log grate in the bottom of my fireplace?

Your King of Hearths fireplace is designed to burn wood with or without a log grate installed. Without a grate, simply lay the wood on the floor of the firebox. Wood grates allow more airflow to your fire and help extend the time between ash removal.

What can I burn in my King of Hearths outdoor fireplace?

As tempting as it may be to burn trash, treated wood, yard compost or other materials in your fireplace, we recommend burning ONLY dried natural tree wood. Burning other materials can have adverse effects on your health, your fireplace, and the environment. Your safety and the environment are important to us.

Can I use gasoline or another combustible fuel to start fires in my fireplace?

We recommend using paper, cardboard or wood kindling to start your fires. Anything else could be a danger to you and potentially damage your fireplace. Consider safety as your top priority.

Is my fireplace supposed to have a rough surface?

Yes. Your King of Hearths fireplace is manufactured with a textured exterior. This semi-rough surface helps ensure a lasting bond between the precast concrete and your finishing materials.

Do I need to mortar or secure the fireplace to the hearth or slab?

No. In fact, a small gap is needed between the bottom of the facing (stone, brick or stucco) and concrete pad to prevent the facing from contacting the hearth/pad during any temperature-related shifting of the pad which could damage the facing.

My side box appears to be a different height than the firebox. Is this normal?

Yes. Side boxes are constructed slightly taller than fireboxes so the side box meets the firebox at an angle. This helps prevent pooling of water and ice which could expand and damage your stone or stucco facing.

Is the fireplace light enough that I can set it in place with a few strong friends?

Your safety is important to us. We strongly recommend having a landscape professional or the dealer from which you purchased your fireplace use a forklift or other appropriate equipment to move your fireplace into place. Attempting to carry or place your fireplace without proper equipment could result in serious injury or worse.

Are cracks in my fireplace normal?

Yes, Stress Cracks in fireplaces and ovens are micro-fractures that are a normal occurrence that does not affect the structural integrity of the unit and are not grounds for rejection.

Are there any installation instructions available?

Sure! Check out this page for installation and operation instructions.