You’re standing in your backyard, looking at a blank patch of pavers or a grassy void, and you think, "I need a fire feature." But not just any fire feature. You want that architectural statement piece—the kind that makes neighbors peek over the fence. Enter the 2 sided outdoor fireplace. It’s basically the double-sided tape of the hardscaping world; it connects two distinct spaces while keeping them separate. It's cool. It’s dramatic. It is also, quite honestly, a massive pain in the neck to plan correctly if you don't know how wind currents work.
Most people see a see-through fireplace in a glossy magazine and think it’s just a standard fireplace with the back knocked out. It isn't. Not even close.
If you build one of these things without understanding the physics of a "see-through" unit, you’re basically building a very expensive smoke machine for your patio. I’ve seen homeowners spend $15,000 on a custom masonry 2 sided outdoor fireplace only to realize that a slight breeze from the west sends a face-full of soot into the dining area every single time they light a log. It's a bummer. But when you get it right? It’s the literal heart of an outdoor living space.
The engineering headache nobody mentions
Here’s the thing about a traditional fireplace: it relies on a "draft." Heat rises, goes up the chimney, and creates a vacuum that pulls more air in. With a 2 sided outdoor fireplace, you have two massive openings competing for air. If the wind blows through one side, it creates a high-pressure zone that pushes smoke out the other side. This is what pros call "back-puffing."
To fight this, you can’t just use a standard flue. You need a massive chimney—way bigger than you think. We’re talking a flue-to-opening ratio that would look ridiculous on a standard house. Or, you go the smart route and install glass doors or high-performance ceramic glass on one or both sides. This keeps the wind from whipping through the middle of your fire like a wind tunnel.
Is it still "outdoor" if it has glass? Kinda. It’s a trade-off. If you want the raw, open-flame look on both sides, you better have a chimney tall enough to pierce the clouds, or you need to be very lucky with your local wind patterns.
Wood-burning vs. Gas: The Great Debate
Honestly, if you value your sanity and your white patio furniture, gas is the way to go for a see-through unit. Brands like Isokern or Superior make ventless gas inserts that are designed specifically for this. With gas, you don't have to worry about "draw" as much because you aren't trying to exhaust heavy wood smoke. You get the ambiance, you get the 2-sided view, and you don't end up smelling like a campfire for three days.
📖 Related: What Does a Stoner Mean? Why the Answer Is Changing in 2026
But I get it. Some of you are purists. You want the crackle. You want the smell of seasoned oak.
If you go wood-burning for a 2 sided outdoor fireplace, you have to be meticulous about the "smoke shelf." This is a little ledge inside the chimney that prevents downdrafts from hitting the fire. In a double-sided unit, building a functional smoke shelf is an art form. You'll likely need a custom-engineered solution from a company like FireRock or a very, very experienced mason who hasn't lost his touch. Don't hire a guy who "usually does 1-sided brick ovens." You need a specialist.
Designing the flow of your "Outdoor Rooms"
The real magic of the 2 sided outdoor fireplace isn't the fire itself; it’s how it organizes your yard. Think of it as a transparent wall.
- You put the "Outdoor Living Room" on one side with the deep-seated sofas and the TV.
- You put the "Outdoor Dining/Kitchen" on the other side.
- The fireplace sits right in the middle.
This creates "zones." It makes a large patio feel cozy and a small patio feel like it has multiple "destinations." You can be flipping burgers on the grill side while still seeing the kids roasting marshmallows on the other side. It keeps the conversation flowing through the hearth.
Why height matters more than width
I see people making these fireplaces way too wide. A 60-inch wide opening looks cool, but it’s a nightmare to manage. A narrower, taller opening actually helps with the draft and looks more "stately." Think about the proportions of a classic English manor. They aren't squat. They have verticality.
Also, consider the "hearth." That's the floor of the fireplace. In a 2 sided outdoor fireplace, a raised hearth (about 18 inches off the ground) is a game changer. It doubles as extra seating. When you have a big party and run out of chairs, people naturally gravitate toward the warm stone ledge. It’s basically a heated bench.
👉 See also: Am I Gay Buzzfeed Quizzes and the Quest for Identity Online
The cost of doing it right
Let’s talk numbers, because "affordable" is a relative term in the world of custom masonry.
A basic, prefabricated gas 2 sided outdoor fireplace kit might start around $3,000 to $5,000 for just the "innards." Then you have to finish it. Stone veneer, labor, gas lines, permits—you’re looking at a total project cost of $10,000 to $25,000.
If you go full custom masonry with real hand-cut stone? You’re staring down $30,000 or more.
Why so much? Because it's heavy. A massive stone fireplace needs a serious concrete footing. You can’t just plop it on a 4-inch patio slab. It’ll crack the concrete and start leaning like the Tower of Pisa within two winters. You need a footer that goes below the frost line. That means digging, rebar, and a lot of bags of Quikrete.
Maintenance: The "Hidden" Chore
People think because it’s outdoors, they don't have to clean it. Wrong.
Spiders love fireplaces. They will spin webs in your gas orifices, and suddenly your $10k fireplace won't light. You’ll get a "clicking" sound but no flame. If you have a wood-burning unit, ash management is twice as annoying because you have two sides to sweep out. And if you chose the glass-door option to prevent smoke issues? You’re going to be cleaning soot off that glass every three fires if you want it to actually look "see-through."
✨ Don't miss: Easy recipes dinner for two: Why you are probably overcomplicating date night
Is it worth it?
Yeah. It is. There is nothing—and I mean nothing—that compares to the vibe of a double-sided fire on a crisp October night. It’s a focal point that works twice as hard as a standard fireplace.
Key Technical Specs to Check
Before you write a check to a contractor, ask them these three things:
- How are you handling the pressure differential? If they look at you like you have three heads, find a new contractor. They should mention chimney height, glass doors, or a specific "High-Draft" flue system.
- What is the BTU rating on the gas burner? For an outdoor unit, you want something high—at least 60,000 to 90-000 BTUs. The heat dissipates fast in the open air.
- Is the stone veneer "tight-stack" or grouted? Tight-stack looks modern but can be trickier with heat expansion. Make sure they are using heat-resistant mortar or "fireclay" in the actual firebox. Regular mortar will literally explode (well, pop loudly and crack) when it gets too hot.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're serious about adding a 2 sided outdoor fireplace to your home this season, don't start with a Pinterest board. Start with the "Wind Test."
Go out to the spot where you want to build it. Light a few sticks of incense or a small, controlled smoky fire in a portable fire pit on a breezy day. Watch where the smoke goes. Does it swirl in a circle? Does it get sucked toward the house? This "micro-climate" in your backyard will dictate whether you need an open-air masonry unit or a sealed gas model.
Once you know your wind, call a local gas technician to see if running a line to that spot is even feasible. It’s much cheaper to find out now than after you’ve poured a three-foot-deep concrete footer.
Finally, look into "pre-engineered" kits like those from Outdoor Greatroom Company or Isokern. These are often better than "from-scratch" builds because they’ve already been tested in labs for airflow and safety. They take the guesswork out of the physics, leaving you to just pick the pretty stones for the outside.
Build for the wind, plan for the weight, and always—always—over-spec the chimney height. Your smokeless, dual-sided evening retreat depends on it.