Cast Iron Chimenea vs Clay Chimenea

Cast iron chimenea vs clay chimenea.  Is there a clear winner?  Is one better than the other?

If you want to learn more about chimenea we have a useful guide, or let’s dive straight in and answer those questions…

COST

Cost is a primary driver for many of us, though the focus should be on which is more cost-effective rather than just the cheapest. Why?

Because if you were to go on cost alone then the cheaper option would be clay.  You can find cheaper clay chimenea’s on the market than cast iron ones but be warned – you get what you pay for!

Cheap clay chimeneas are not usually built very well at all and can be incredibly fragile.

This means that if you are looking for a budget chimenea then a cast iron chimenea would actually be the better choice as cast iron is incredibly durable at any price.

For a good quality clay chimenea then you will be looking at a cost of at least £200 and up.  The benefit of spending a bit more on a good clay chimenea is that aesthetically they tend to be a lot nicer than a cast iron chimenea.

Winner Cost: Clay Chimenea

Winner Cost Effectiveness: Cast Iron Chimenea

MOVABILITY

While this may seem like an odd category in the debate, movability is an important factor to consider, not only for installation but also if there ever comes a time when you want to rearrange your outdoor space.

Cast Iron is heavy! Very heavy.  So, moving your cast iron chimenea isn’t easy.  Even the smaller ones have a hefty weight to them.

That being said, the fact that it’s made from cast iron does make it incredibly strong and durable.  So if you did decide you wanted to go through the effort of moving it you can be confident that you’re unlikely to break it.

Clay chimeneas are also heavy (especially the larger ones) and moving them is not something that should be taken lightly, either.

The added drawback with clay chimeneas is that they are far more fragile than cast iron chimeneas.  You want to make sure to avoid any cracks in your chimenea at all costs, and any small bump when moving it could cause some damage.

If you think you’re likely to want to move your chimenea in the future, then you need to weigh up whether you’d rather take on the weight or the fragility.

Winner: Cast Iron Chimenea

MAINTENANCE

Considering the upkeep and maintenance of your chimenea should be a top priority in the debate of cast iron chimenea vs clay chimenea.

The reality is, anything that deals with high temperatures and is kept outdoors will come with a certain amount of maintenance needed.

Clay chimeneas certainly need a lot more than cast iron chimeneas, however!

This is mostly because you will need to cure your clay chimenea first.  This process involved building small fires over and over again, gradually increasing their size until you reach a full-sized fire.  It’s an important step in making sure your clay chimenea doesn’t crack under the extreme temperatures from the fire.

Cast iron chimeneas on the other hand are good to go as soon as you get them and will be chuffing out all the heat you need from the get-go.

Both will need to be cleaned out thoroughly, and both will need to be protected from the elements with a cover of some sort.

With a cast iron chimenea in particular you want to make sure you protect it from the rain so you don’t get any rust.

Overall, however, a clay chimenea does come with just a little more maintenance, at least at the start.

Winner: Cast Iron Chimenea

HEAT OUTPUT

While both clay chimeneas and cast iron chimeneas produce a good amount of heat to keep you warm on a cold night, there’s no denying that cast iron also wins this category!

Cast iron heats up fast and gives that heat off to a greater degree.  Meaning it will warm a larger area, and faster than a clay chimenea would.

This makes them a better fit for larger outdoor spaces.

Winner: Cast Iron Chimenea

SAFETY

When working with fire safety should always be a top priority.

Cast iron’s advantage of getting super-hot super quickly is also its biggest disadvantage here as it is a LOT slower to cool down.  This means that even several hours after use the chimenea will still be hot enough to cause some serious damage if touched, especially if those hands happen to belong to your child!

Clay cools much quicker, so you can be confident that hours after the fire has gone out you won’t need to be as worried about it burning anyone.

Winner: Clay Chimenea

USABILITY

One of the great things about chimeneas, in general, is how easy they are to use, and how versatile they can be in your garden.  They were traditionally used for cooking in Mexico after all.

The basic process of building a fire is the same for both, though cast iron comes with the advantage of being able to burn wood and coal without any issues.  For clay chimeneas, you’ll want to stick with wood!

Cooking on a chimenea can be a really great addition to both cast iron and clay chimeneas, and you can get some fantastic accessories for whipping up all kinds of culinary masterpieces.  From food smokers to waffle irons you really can cook just about anything!

Winner: Tie

AESTHETIC

Finally, let’s talk about aesthetics.  After all, you want to make sure that whatever you get for your garden looks good.

For many, it’s hard to beat the gorgeous look of a traditional clay chimenea with a unique pattern painted on it.  All clay chimeneas are hand made which also means that yours will be completely unique in many ways.

Cast iron has its charms too, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find much in the way of variety when it comes to colour and tone.

Cast iron chimeneas do generally have more variety in style than clay chimeneas, however, which may make them a better fit for the overall aesthetic you are going for with your outdoor space.

Winner: Clay Chimenea

Which is best: Clay Chimenea or Cast iron Chimenea?

So our verdict a cast iron chimenea wins, but a close fought battle. In honesty, I wanted to award a 10 for the aesthetic of a clay chimenea. They look stunning and available in so many colours and style variations. 

Final Thoughts

The reality is that both cast iron chimeneas and clay chimeneas are a fantastic choice when it comes to heating your outdoor space.

We are all different and some features will mean more than others, for me the aesthetic of a clay chimenea will win the argument every day.

Hopefully highlighting some of the advantages and disadvantages of each here will help you make that important decision and find exactly the right chimenea for your garden.

If you need a bit more inspiration, we have a fantastic range of both cast iron and clay chimeneas for you to browse.