Chim cheroo, I finally have my chiminea up and running. I wrote not long ago about getting myself a chiminea, but first I needed to sort out the garden. It’s not a very big space and most of it is covered in concrete. There’s no way I could dig all of that out down to a level of soil, so I had to put on my thinking cap.
The Wife’s Idea
My wife came up with the idea of wood chippings to hide the concrete. Looking around on the internet, it seems wood chippings covering an area bigger than a footpath can become soggy and worn out after a couple of years. That means replacing them every so often, which I didn’t really fancy doing.
Any Colour You Want
Eventually, we came across several companies that make a wood chip look alike from old tyres! Not only that, they can supply them in a variety of colours, so you have a nice choice. I like the idea of recycling the tyres as they must be a nightmare to dispose of. Moving on and my wife chose the ‘fire brick red’ colour, so I measured up and we put the order in.
All The Way From Yorkshire
There are quite a few companies supplying this stuff, but we found one we really liked who is based in Yorkshire. I think it was about 8 days before the huge builder’s bag arrived by lorry. The driver said to me, ‘you won’t believe how much of this stuff I deliver every week!’ It was a typical wet and cold day, well not typical, but typical because I was having a delivery. I had to handball it into the garden, which was bloody hard work!
Strength Of A Dandelion
We laid one of those black mat things first, to stop any weeds from pushing up through the concrete. How do little weeds do that? Concrete is solid and even drilling it can take ages, yet a Dandelion can make its way through without the slightest problem! As you can see in the photo, we got it all laid and nice and level, leaving a space for the chiminea.
Lovely Neighbours
One of our lovely neighbours heard we were looking for a chiminea and said we could have the one in her back garden which she never uses anymore. How lovely was that? I gave it a brush down and a lick of heat resistant paint plus I sent for a protective rain cover for it. I have plenty of old dried out bits and pieces of wood, so it didn’t take long before we were sitting comfortably, nice and toasty on a Spring evening. We were both surprised by how much heat the chiminea gives off.
If anyone is interested in these decorative recycled chippings as they’re also great for children’s play areas too, then I can recommend the company we got these from. Ecochippings
conniejjasperson
May 18, 2022I loved our chiminea, when we lived on the lake. But I’m not familiar with the term “handballing it in.” Could you explain to this Pacific Northwesterner?
Trev
May 18, 2022Hi Connie, yes, handballing is basically moving it all by hand without any help like a wheelbarrow etc. 🙂
Lauren
May 18, 2022I love my chiminea. It comes in three pieces, so moving it is a little less awful. I buy my rubber tire bits and pieces from the big box home improvement stores here. The bags are way easier than having to do it by hand. At least I imagine it would be. Your set up looks great. Enjoy your time basking in the warmth.
Trev
May 18, 2022Thank you, Lauren. I could have had 10kg bags, but I didn’t think it through properly and hence why I ended up with the huge builders bag. 🙂
Peter's pondering
May 18, 2022Fire brick red was an excellent choice by Debbie, as I’m sure you’ve told her. Just had a look at the Ecochippings site. They are very well organised!
Trev
May 18, 2022Thank you, Peter, I shall let her know. They seem a good company and we wouldn’t have any reservations in recommending them. 🙂
Jim Flanigan
May 18, 2022Really looks nice. Enjoy!
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, Jim and it is 🙂
Rosaliene Bacchus
May 18, 2022Good for you, Trev! Looks great. I’ve never heard about rubber bark chips. While it may look like wood chips, they probably feel different underfoot.
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, Rosliene. It does feel like you’re walking on sponge. 🙂
Yetismith
May 19, 2022So glad you were able to work your little project out and support recycling at the same time. There are some very creative people around and may God bless them!
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, Yeti, I appreciate your kind words. 😊
SusanR
May 19, 2022Oh that looks so inviting! Can’t do it here in Denver right now. Very high fire danger. Even a spark could be a disaster. I don’t imagine drought has ever been a problem in your part of the world.
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, Susan. You’re right, drought has never been a problem although flooding has. 😊
derrickjknight
May 19, 2022Very well done. Just beware of sparks 🙂
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, Derrick. Yes, fortunately the fire always seemed contained in the bottom of the chiminea. There’s always the hose pipe on standby too. 😊
harmonykentonline
May 19, 2022Looks lovely, Trev. Great work! 💕🙂
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, that’s very kind of you. 😊
Going Batty in Wales
May 19, 2022Those tyre chips seem a good idea. Enjoy your al fresco evenings.
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, they are fabulous. 😊
Crystal Byers
May 19, 2022I would’ve never guessed about the tires! I scored a chiminea from a neighbor once. Then we moved, and I can’t remember how we lost it. 🤷♀️ Love yours!
Trev
May 19, 2022Thank you, Crystal. Yes, the faux wood chippings are excellent. 😊
Cindy Georgakas
May 20, 2022oh I have to build a concrete pad to build a pizza oven on but I’m not a fan of the concrete. Can you put them on top of the pad? Great idea!
👏👏
Trev
May 21, 2022Hi Cindy. You can’t really put it on top of the rubber chippings. Although they’re fireproof, it wouldn’t be very stable. I’ve used a concrete paver. Thank you 😊
MythRider
May 25, 2022I never heard of a chiminea until your post.
It’s been a cold and chilly spring here. An outside sit by a chiminea sounds cozy.
May you have many happy memories by the fire.
Trev
May 25, 2022Thank you, Phyllis. It certainly is a cozy experience, and the same here, it’s been a cool Spring so I’m even more grateful for the chiminea. 🙂
luisa zambrotta
May 26, 2022The result is truly remarkable!😉
Trev
May 26, 2022Thank you as always, Luisa. 🤗😉😊
markbierman
June 11, 2022I really like the look of chimineas.
Trev
June 11, 2022Thank you, Mark, I love it. 🙂
sustainabilitea
June 19, 2022Sounds like a big project but I’m sure you’re enjoying it. I had to chuckle a few days ago while shopping at Aldi where they had fire pits for sale. Nothing sounds much less inviting than outdoor fire in Arizona in the summer when the temperature in the evening might still be well over 100F! 🥵
janet
Trev
June 19, 2022Thank you, Janet. Yes, I agree about fire-pits outside in those temperatures. 😊
Baydreamer
June 22, 2022Looks very nice and inviting, Trev. And thanks for your visits to my blog. 🙂
~Lauren
Trev
June 22, 2022Thank you, Lauren and you’re very welcome. 😊
marlagro
September 21, 2022Your articles are so interesting!
Trev
September 21, 2022Thank you, that’s very kind of you. 😊