Deck and patio hearth

Hands-on time: Less than two hours.
Total time: Add 4 hours of drying of time.
Skill: Moderate.
Cost estimate: The cost of the materials for this project is less than $25.00, but the total cost can vary depending on which of the following materials you purchase (the cost of the Sunjel is about $8.00 per can).

Materials & Tools

• A large planter of your choice (old or new) plus a smaller planter to hold the "flame" at the center of the larger planter
• Household cleaner
• Primer suitable for plaster, cement, terra-cotta to seal porous surfaces
• Black, Smooth Stucco, a textured decorative coating paste (available at Loomis art stores and some Benjamin Moore retailers)
• Metal spatula (about 51-76mm wide)
• Silver Metallic Gel (available at Loomis art stores and some Benjamin Moore retailers)
• Lint-free cloth
• White decorative rocks (sand or river stones can also be used, available at garden centers)
• Wood pieces, river stones, or sand to fill bottom of the planter
• Sunjel flame in a can (is a gelled alcohol-based product, when lit makes beautiful flames, a safe, clean burning alternative to old-fashioned wood, available at some hardware retailers and garden nurseries)

Create ambiance with a mesmerizing hearth for your porch, patio, or deck made by refurbishing a new or weathered planter with Smooth Stucco and metallic gel. Adding a can of Sunjel flame in a can at the center of the planter is a terrific, safe, environmentally friendly, yet stylish and contemporary warming way to light up your exterior décor. Do this project in the morning and enjoy it the same evening.

Clean the planter thoroughly with household cleaners, rinse, wipe and let dry. Once dry, apply a primer coat to seal the porous surface and let dry.

Apply the decorative black coating paste onto the surface of the planter with a spatula in a crisscross motion. The Stucco paste is used to create texture, so there are no mistakes here - anything goes. The paste can also be applied with brushes, trowels, rollers or sponges. You can even use a faux-finish comb to add lines and extra texture.

Once the surface and rim of the planter has been completely covered, let it dry for 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the thickness of the paste applied. Once the paste is dry, apply the silver metallic topcoat with a lint-free cloth using circular motions around the surface of the planter. Let it dry for about an hour. The metallic silver topcoat over the black paste is a highly decorative finish which is truly impressive.

Fill the bottom half of the planter with wood pieces, sand or river rocks. Center and place the can of Sunjel gel flame inside a smaller terra-cotta planter at the center of the lager planter. Fill up the rest of the planter with white decorative rocks, river rocks, or even lava rocks around the inserted smaller planter with the Sunjel, and make sure it is secure and level. Light the Sunjel as per manufacturer's directions and enjoy the golden glow and crackles - just like those of a real fireplace. Create the perfect atmosphere for summer entertaining and patio parties.

Tips

• Read the product labels very carefully and remove the label before lighting the Sunjel can. This environmentally-friendly product is alcohol based, with water, salt and thickening agents and so there is no soot, nor any fumes, and it creates an awesome crackle! The flames can burn for up to 7 hours. The cans can be resealed and reused.
• This project and the Sunjel products are not recommended for interior use. Use indoors only with specially designed fireplaces.
• I place a medium sized terra-cotta saucer upside down on top of the centered Sunjel when not in use to protect it from the rain.

Variations

• The Stucco paste can also be used on wood, metal, and concrete surfaces to create an array of projects with truly unique results. Try this project using other metallic topcoat colours such as, gold, or copper.
• You can also use smaller planters, apply the texture paste as mentioned above and, instead of using Sunjel, insert large pillar candles at the center and fill the planter with decorative rocks or sand. It would make a sensational centerpiece, or it could be used to place on the front or back porch steps to illuminate your path.