Looking to spend extended hours and make the most of your garden even in the nippy weather- the way to go is installing a fire pit. Also, it acts as a good gathering area to spend with your friends and family. The fact that it is easy to install and maintain also makes it an attractive feature to have in your outdoor space.
Fire pits are available in varied designs for your garden, starting from DIY fire pits even for beginners. If you would like more sophisticated options than uneven curves and edges, these are the options for you:
- Outdoor Fire pit: The traditional looking option which looks like a mini-well- either to be installed on the ground or to be left on firm solid even grounds. Usually made of concrete.
- Fire pit bowl or fire bowl: Easily portable than the other options, these come in varied sizes and materials, either to be left on the ground as a bowl or comes with stand/ feet.
- Fire pit Table: These are outdoor dining tables or coffee tables with controlled fire in the middle of the table. Ideal if your entertaining centres around dining or lounging.
- Table top firepit: portable and small in size, these are the ones which are left on table- be it indoor/outdoor coffee table, dining table, patio table or even the outdoor side tables.
Common materials used for fire pit construction includes-
- Highly durable, but heavy - concrete fire pits or reinforced concrete fire pits;
- Sleek and stylish, but expensive and maintenance high -stainless steel firepits;
- Rustproof and light weight - aluminium firepits;
- Sturdy and strong, but not rust free- Cor-ten or weathering steel firepits
- Extremely durable, but expensive and heavy- cast iron fire pits. These are also suitable for the best choice for cooking.
Selecting fuel for the firepit is as important as choosing the design and material of the firepit. Heat, maintenance, sustainability, cleaning etc are the important things to decide on while choosing the fuel.
- Wood - something that’s been in use for more than 1000 years. Also, there is something dreamy and surreal about sitting next to natural fire with the crackling sound of wood. Most affordable option. The biggest con of using fire, is how to control and that the looming fire hazard an open fire is. Note: Be careful of the wood / log that you use for burning. Also, ensure it is completely dry before lighting the fire. If smoke is created instead of fire, this could lead to causing nuisance to your neighbours and could result in council actions.
- Propane: Gas powered fire pits are more expensive than the traditional ones as they involve setting up a burner and operating mechanism. Cleaner than wood firepits for the environment, these are also easy to clean as there is hardly any residue. The fire or the heat could also be easily controlled thus making an all year around option.
- Ethanol- Ethanol made from natural materials- this is both green and renewable. Unlike other 2 options, bio-ethanol firepits could be used indoors as well. However, it is more expensive than the other options.