Outdoor Heating
HERMEQ steel chimeneas are wood burning garden heaters made from laser cut mild steel, built to warm patios, terraces and gardens from cool spring evenings into the depths of winter. The range covers three designs, Fern Leaf, Nesting Birds and Climbing Ivy, each cut with its own pattern so the fire draws air in and throws light out across the garden around it. HERMEQ manufactures every chimenea itself and delivers nationwide.
Laser cut steel chimenea designs
All three designs share the same laser cut mild steel construction and the same 1.8 metre height, so the choice comes down to the pattern and the setting it will stand in. HERMEQ also makes bespoke chimeneas to a buyer's requirements, with in-house steel processing, so a chimenea can carry a motif drawn for a landscaping scheme, a pub garden or a hotel terrace, or be made to a different height for a small courtyard or a larger open space.
Fern Leaf chimenea
The Fern Leaf steel chimenea suits shaded corners, woodland borders and gardens planted with ferns, hostas and other foliage. Once it is lit, the fronds throw leaf shapes across the paving and nearby walls, so the planting appears to carry on into the firelight.
Nesting Birds chimenea
The Nesting Birds chimenea carries a pictorial motif that reads clearly from across the garden, which makes it the natural choice for a cottage garden, a wildlife garden with feeders and nest boxes, or a lawn where the chimenea is the view from the house. The birds stand out in silhouette by day and glow from within after dark.
Climbing Ivy chimenea
The Climbing Ivy laser cut chimenea follows the climbing habit of the plant, and it suits walled gardens, courtyards and terraces where climbers already cover brick, fencing or trellis. Set against a planted wall, it continues the line of the greenery, and the stems cast a pattern of light upwards as the fire burns.
Steel, clay or cast iron chiminea
The material decides how a chiminea copes with the weather, how quickly it warms and how it gives out its heat. Clay is the traditional choice and holds heat well, but it needs curing with a series of small fires before full use, and because it absorbs water it can crack in frost unless it is covered or stored indoors over winter. Cast iron is very heavy and slow to warm, then holds its heat for a long time, which suits a burner that will stay in one fixed spot for long evenings.
Laser cut mild steel can stand outdoors all year without the frost damage clay suffers, and it is easier to position than a cast iron burner. The pattern cut through the body lets the fire breathe, drawing air in through the sides so the logs burn well, and it sends heat and light out on every side, where clay and cast iron chimineas release them mainly through a front opening. Steel is the right choice when the chimenea will live outside in the garden and its pattern matters as much as its warmth.
Where to put a chimenea in the garden
A chimenea belongs on a firm, level, non-combustible base in open air, clear of fences, sheds, buildings and overhanging branches, and placed so the prevailing wind carries smoke away from the house and seating. The tall flue releases smoke above the heads of seated guests, so it needs open sky above it, away from gazebos, parasols and low tree canopies.
Patios and terraces
Stone, concrete and brick paving all give a non-combustible base, so the main check is that the area is level and the chimenea stands upright and steady. Keep it away from house walls, doors and open windows, and from wooden furniture stored at the edge of the terrace.
Lawns and gravel
Grass scorches under a fire and soft ground lets the legs sink, so set the chimenea on a pad of paving slabs laid flat and level. On gravel, rake and compact the area first, then lay slabs so the base stays level as the stones settle.
Decking
Timber decking needs a heat-proof base under the chimenea, such as a hearth slab, paving slabs or a fireproof floor protection mat, large enough to catch any embers or ash that fall. Place it well in from deck edges and away from timber screens and balustrades.
Popular Categories
Garden Planters
View Products >
Garden Fencing
View Products >
Decorative Garden Features
View Products >
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it chimenea or chiminea?
Both spellings are correct and describe the same outdoor fireplace. Chimenea is the Spanish word for a chimney or fireplace, and chiminea is a common English spelling of it. Retailers and buyers use the two interchangeably.
What is the difference between a chimenea and a fire pit?
A chimenea encloses the fire in a body with a flue that draws smoke upwards and releases it above head height. A fire pit is an open bowl, so smoke drifts at seat level and the heat rises straight up.
What wood should you burn in a steel chimenea?
Burn dry, well-seasoned or kiln-dried hardwood logs, which light easily, give steady heat and produce less smoke than damp wood. Avoid treated, painted or varnished timber, pallets and garden waste, and never use petrol or other accelerants to start the fire. Natural firelighters and dry kindling are all a chimenea needs.
Does a steel chimenea need curing before first use?
A steel chimenea does not need curing in the way a clay one does, because there is no clay body to dry out and harden. Build the first fire up gradually from kindling to logs. This also shows how well the flue draws in the spot you have chosen.
How do you look after a steel chimenea through the winter?
Clear out the ash once each fire is cold, since damp ash holds moisture against the steel, and keep it covered when it is not in use. Standing it on a slab keeps the legs out of standing water, and any chips in the finish can be touched up with heat-resistant paint.