The Complete Guide
Custom Made Outdoor Fireplace Covers — The Complete Owner's Guide
Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits have become a fixture in backyards, particularly in colder climates where people want to use their outdoor spaces year-round. A well-chosen fireplace can transform a patio or deck from a summer-only space to somewhere comfortable from autumn through spring. The downside is that a metal fireplace left uncovered in the rain will start to show its age quickly, and a good cover makes a significant difference to how long it lasts.
Why outdoor fireplaces need a fitted cover
A standalone outdoor fireplace or fire pit is almost always made from cast iron, powder-coated steel, or a combination of metal components. All of these materials will hold up well when properly cared for. Left exposed to rain, morning dew, coastal salt air, or frost, they corrode. Rust spots develop at welds and seams, the base collects moisture, and over a few seasons a fireplace that should last fifteen years starts showing deterioration far sooner.
A weather cover keeps the moisture out between uses. It is the simplest and most effective maintenance step for any outdoor fireplace, and the return on investment is straightforward: a cover that lasts five to seven years versus a fireplace that starts corroding in two.
The challenge is that outdoor fireplaces come in such a wide range of shapes and sizes that standard covers rarely fit properly. A cover that is too large flaps in the wind and collects water in the folds. A cover that is too small does not reach the ground and leaves the base exposed. A made-to-measure cover is cut to the specific footprint of your unit.
The three measurements you need
Width
Width is the widest measurement of your fireplace at its broadest point. On most units, this is the widest part of the body, but include any handles, base plates, or feet that extend further than the main body. Measure from the outermost point on one side to the outermost point on the other.
Depth
Depth is the front-to-back measurement at the deepest section of the unit. Again, include any part of the base or feet that protrude beyond the main body. On a round chiminea, depth and width will be very similar. On a rectangular fireplace with a door at the front, depth is often less than width.
Height
Height is the distance from the ground to the top of the main body of the fireplace. Do not include the chimney pipe or flue in this measurement if it extends significantly above the body. A cover built to the height of a tall flue would act as a wind sail and would be impractical to use. The cover is designed to enclose the body of the unit. If a flue extends above the opening, it can protrude through or rest against the edge of the cover at the top.
Do not add extra centimetres to any measurement. The production pattern includes the correct ease.
The most important rule: always let it cool
This cannot be overstated. The cover is a weather cover made from coated woven fabric. It is not fire-retardant. Placing it on a warm or hot unit will damage the cover, and in some cases creates a genuine fire risk as residual heat builds up underneath.
The minimum recommended waiting time after the last fire is 12 hours. In cold weather, when the unit retains heat longer, wait longer. If you are not sure whether the unit has cooled completely, check the base and the back of the unit, which hold heat longer than the front and top. When in doubt, leave it overnight.
Material and construction
All covers are made from 350gsm silver laminated woven polypropylene. The base is woven polypropylene, which is strong, tough, and tear-resistant. It stands up to the knocks and drags of being pulled on and off a unit through the seasons.
The exterior carries a silver laminate coating. That coating is reflective, so it bounces sunlight away rather than soaking it up. The cover and the unit underneath stay cooler, and the fabric is shielded from the sun and UV that would otherwise break it down over time. The same coating sheds rain and keeps water off the unit.
At 350gsm the fabric is heavier and more substantial than a light cover. It holds its shape well, sits where you put it, and lasts. It is still a cover, not a tarp, so one person can fit it and remove it without trouble. All seams are reinforced and the base hem has enough structure to stay in position in light winds without needing ties. Cheap covers fail fast: they go brittle, tear at the seams, or let water pool in the folds. This fabric is built to avoid that.
Caring for your cover
Rinse regularly with a garden hose to remove ash dust, pollen, and debris. Spot-clean with mild soapy water. Do not machine wash. The agitation strips the silver coating in a single cycle. Store the cover folded loosely, not compressed tightly, and in a dry location between seasons if you store it away for summer.