Since we sell both traditional clay chimeneas and contemporary metal chimeneas, we really don’t have a horse in this race. However, we do appreciate that it’s a point of contention for many people when they’re trying to decide between a clay and metal chimenea for their outdoor living space, so here’s an objective over of both pros and cons of each type, to help you make your decision!

Pros of clay chimeneas

Clay chimeneas (almost known as Mexican chimeneas) are made from a single piece of clay, unlike metal chimeneas. Here are a few of their benefits…

• Traditional looks – A clay chimenea has a very unique look, inspired by the first chimeneas invented more than 400 years ago.
• Cool off more quickly – Clay insulates against heat, so these chimeneas cool off more quickly and the exterior does not get as hot.
• No assembly required – These products are shipped in one piece, so you don’t have to put them together. No assembly required.

Cons of clay chimeneas

Wondering if there are any drawbacks to clay chimeneas? Here are a few…

• Requires more maintenance – You’ll need to preheat the chimenea before using it in cold temperatures, seal it twice per year, and clean it regularly.
• Breaks more easily – The firebox could shatter without warning, particularly due to weathering. If it’s ever knocked over, the chimenea will mostly likely break.
• Does not heat very well – Clay chimeneas do not heat up as quickly or as evenly as metal models.

Pros of metal chimeneas

Let’s take a look at a few benefits of metal chimeneas compared to clay chimeneas…

• Longer lifespan – Metal chimeneas will typically last longer than clay chimeneas.
• More durable – A metal unit is less prone to sudden breakage, and will hold up to more wear & tear.
• Holds heat very well – Metal is a better conductor than clay, so more heat will be generated by the chimenea.

Cons of metal chimeneas

Wondering what the drawbacks of metal chimeneas are?

• Assembly required – You’ll need to figure out how to put the chimenea together on your own, since they’re shipped disassembled.
• More expensive – Clay chimeneas are typically cheaper than metal chimeneas.
• Heavy and hard to move – Clay is lighter, so it’s usually easier to move your chimenea around if you have to. Of course, this isn’t a disadvantage if you don’t plan on moving it around.

Clearly there are both pros and cons to both types of chimeneas, and hopefully we have provided you with enough of an overview to help you determine which type is best for you. Generally speaking, and from our experience, most of our customers pick the one which physically looks most appealing, which is often based on which they believe will fit best in their outdoor environment.

At the end of the day, if you treat your chimenea properly and take care of it as instructed, you’ll get pleasure out of it, no matter what it’s made out of.

Right, so ready to start shopping? Here’s our range of Mexican clay chimeneas and steel & cast iron chimeneas.