When planning on re-landscaping backyards, an outdoor fire can be the ideal finishing touch. Outdoor fires are like extensions of the rest of the home, creating a cosy extra room or entertaining space for all seasons.

With Stoke's outdoor fires, homeowners have the choice of gas or wood. Gas gives the benefit of convenience and instant heat, while the crackling heat of wood brings old school romance and authenticity.

Beyond this basic comparison there's more to consider, so here's a more thorough break down of the pros and cons of each:

Outdoor Wood Fireplaces

When it comes to ambience, the natural charm of an outdoor wide fire is hard to beat. People love the thought of cooking dinner around the crackling heat of an outdoor fire. Wood fires also have the benefit of being lower cost to install than gas.

Look out for models such as Escea's EW5000, which come with a cooking plate for the ultimate outdoor entertaining fireplace.

So what about the downsides? For busy clients that don't have time for wood sourcing, maintenance and cleaning, then wood may be too much effort. Restrictions and regulations in residential areas due to smoke and air pollution are also factors in the decision for wood.

Outdoor Gas Fireplaces

Gas fireplaces may not be the type of outdoor fire for toasting marshmallows and cooking dinner, but beyond the romance of recreating a campfire experience, there's a lot to like about outdoor gas fireplaces:

• Gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel available. This makes gas fireplaces environmentally friendly (and possibly the only choice, if there are local city council restrictions on pollution).
• The flames are safe. They don't spit sparks or produce hot embers. This makes them an ideal choice for families.
• No post-fire stink. That smell of wood fire really hangs around, but this is not an issue here.
• Low-maintenance — igniting and cleaning is a breeze. No fuss, no mess.

What about cons? It costs to install gas lines from the gas meter to the fireplace (natural gas) or for the upkeep of LPG bottles.

Top Tip: Did you know that in some regions The Gas Hub offers a free natural gas connection if there is gas in the street?

What About a Custom Fireplace?

Another option is designing and building a custom fireplace to perfectly suit a specific outdoor living design.

With a custom-made option, homeowners can have anything they want (within reason) — wood or gas, brick or stone, big or small. However, this does mean being prepared to spend time, effort and money on choosing the perfect design.

Of course this doesn't have to be a deterrence. For homeowners wanting to create their dream outdoor area with its own special point of interest, this is the opportunity to create something fantastic.