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Custom Outdoor Fireplaces and Fire Pits Built for Michigan Homes
A fire feature turns a patio into a three-season room without walls. As a concrete contractor, we build outdoor fireplaces and fire pits in poured and decorative concrete, engineered to sit on a solid footing and stand up to Michigan freeze-thaw cycles. Most of our fire features are built alongside a new or existing patio, so the whole space works as one design.
Custom Outdoor Fireplaces
Our custom outdoor fireplaces are built as poured-in-place concrete structures with a decorative finish, giving you a real focal point with a hearth, firebox opening, and a raised surround. We can size the structure for a wood-burning firebox or a gas insert and wrap it in a stamped or smooth concrete finish that matches your patio and home.
Custom Concrete Fire Pits
If you want the gathering without the taller structure, a fire pit is the answer. We build custom concrete fire pits as built-in, patio-integrated features, as freestanding enclosures and surrounds, and as poured-in-place bowls, all finished in decorative concrete. Because we pour them as part of your patio, the fire pit reads as a planned part of the space rather than an afterthought dropped on top.
Outdoor Fireplace Designs and Construction Options
The right design depends on your yard, your home’s style, and how you like to entertain. We build two broad looks, both in concrete, and tailor the proportions to your space during the on-site visit.
Traditional-Style Concrete Fireplaces
A traditional look leans on symmetry, a tall chimney profile, and a wide raised hearth for seating. We build the structure in poured concrete and finish it with stamped or decorative concrete that can carry the texture of stacked stone or slate, so you get the classic feel built entirely in concrete by our own crew. It pairs naturally with a stamped concrete patio and warm, earthy color tones.
Modern Outdoor Fireplaces
A modern fireplace is lower, wider, and cleaner, often with a linear firebox and a smooth concrete face. This look suits contemporary homes and open patios where the fireplace doubles as a low wall or a divider between lounging and dining areas. Smooth grey concrete, crisp edges, and a simple hearth keep the focus on the flame.
Materials and Finishes for Custom Outdoor Fireplaces
Because we are a concrete company, the structure and the finish are both concrete, which keeps the build consistent and lets us match it to the rest of your hardscape. Your finish options include:
- Poured structural concrete for the footing, walls, and firebox surround, built to carry the load and handle heat with the right components.
- Stamped and decorative concrete facing that can take on a stacked-stone or slate texture with integral color and antiquing
- Exposed aggregate accents on hearths and caps for a durable, textured contrast against a smoother face.
- Smooth troweled concrete for a clean, modern face with sharp corners and minimal joints.
We can also set a manufactured firebox or gas insert and cap the hearth in decorative concrete. Pair the finish with your existing stamped concrete or exposed aggregate surfaces and the whole yard ties together.
Building an Outdoor Fireplace for Michigan Winters
A fireplace is a heavy structure, and in Michigan the ground under it moves every winter. Water freezes, expands, and lifts anything that was not set below the frost line. That is why the footing matters more than the finish.
We pour a reinforced concrete footing sized for the structure and set below frost depth so the fireplace does not heave or crack from freeze-thaw movement. We measure slope and drainage before we pour, a step most builders skip, so water moves away from the base instead of collecting under it. The concrete itself is an air-entrained mix that gives freezing water room to expand. With proper installation and care, a fire feature built this way holds its line through Michigan winters.
Where Should an Outdoor Fireplace Be Installed?
Placement decides how much you use it. A fireplace set at the edge of a patio anchors a seating area and blocks wind, while a fire pit in the center of an open space invites people to circle around it. We plan the spot on site, keeping safe clearances from the house, fences, trees, and any overhang, and confirming setbacks your township requires.
We also look at how the fireplace connects to the rest of the yard, including sight lines from the kitchen or pool deck, prevailing wind, and where the smoke will drift. Getting placement right up front is far easier than moving a poured structure later.
How Much Does an Outdoor Fireplace Cost in Michigan?
Cost depends on the design, so we price each project individually rather than posting a flat rate. A compact fire pit built into a patio sits at the lower end, while a tall custom fireplace with a decorative finish and a gas insert costs more because of the added structure, materials, and labor.
The main factors are the size and height of the structure, the finish you choose, the footing and excavation the site needs, whether you want gas or wood-burning, and access for our crew. Guevara Construction focuses on larger qualifying Projects starting at $6,500. which often means building the fire feature together with a patio or other concrete work.
You will receive a free written proposal that lays out the scope up front. Pricing is set before we start, and any scope changes are quoted before that work begins. Flexible financing is available through Synchrony Financial, including 0% interest for 18 months, subject to approval.
Do Outdoor Fireplaces Require Permits in Michigan?
Often, yes. Many Southeast Michigan townships require a permit for a permanent outdoor fireplace, especially when a gas line is involved, or the structure sits near property lines. Requirements vary from one municipality to the next.
You do not have to sort that out yourself. We handle the permit filings directly with your township or municipality as part of the project, and we build to the setbacks and clearances your local code calls for. It is part of our full-service process.
Why Choose Guevara Construction for Your Outdoor Fireplace?
A fireplace is a permanent structure, so who builds it matters. Here is what our crew brings to the job:
- Veteran-owned and owner-operated. Ownership is on-site at every job, working alongside the crew rather than managing from an office.
- 30+ years of hands-on experience. Of poured and decorative concrete across Metro Detroit.
- Footings and drainage done right. We analyze slope and drainage and set footings below frost depth, so the structure stays put through freeze-thaw seasons.
- One crew, one design. The fireplace, patio, and finishes are all poured by our team, so everything lines up and matches.
- Licensed, insured, and BBB A+ rated. Full accountability on every project, backed by 100+ 5-Star Google Reviews.
- We handle permits directly. The township paperwork is ours to manage, not yours.
See the communities we build in on our service areas page, covering Oakland, Wayne, and parts of Washtenaw County.
Get a Free Outdoor Fireplace Estimate
Tell us about the fireplace or fire pit you have in mind, and we will walk your yard, talk through designs and finishes, and put a plan in writing. No pressure, no obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you build outdoor fireplaces and fire pits in concrete?
Yes. As a concrete contractor, we build outdoor fireplaces and fire pits in poured and decorative concrete, including patio-integrated fire pits, freestanding surrounds, and taller custom fireplaces with a decorative finish. The structure and the finish are both concrete, built by our own crew.
Can an outdoor fireplace be built into my existing patio?
In many cases, yes. We assess the existing slab, footing needs, and clearances during the on-site visit. Often the best result comes from building the fire feature together with a new or expanded patio so the footing and finish are planned as one project.
Can I have a gas or wood-burning outdoor fireplace?
Both are possible. We build the concrete structure to suit either a wood-burning firebox or a gas insert. If you choose gas, the gas line work is coordinated with a licensed professional and factored into the permit and plan.
How long does it take to build an outdoor fireplace?
Timelines vary with the size of the structure, the finish, permitting, weather, site conditions, and concrete scheduling. A fire pit is quicker than a tall custom fireplace. We explain the expected schedule after reviewing your project and before work begins.
Do you handle the permits?
Yes. We file the required permits directly with your township or municipality and build to the setbacks and clearances your local code requires, so you do not have to deal with the paperwork.
Do you have a minimum project size?
Yes. We focus on larger qualifying Projects starting at $6,500. For fire features, that often means building the fireplace or fire pit alongside a patio or other concrete work so the project gets the footing and finish it needs.