Is a Fire Pit Right for You?

If you would like to extend the use of your backyard into the colder months, a fire pit may be the answer. When considering having a fire pit installed, here are some thoughts to consider:

Choices – the major decisions you will need to make when designing a fire pit are:

• Natural stone or manufactured block
• Designed for wood fire or gas
• Location as to where to put the fire pit, and what kind of surrounding area do you want

Central SC firepit integrated into a patio with retaining/seating wall.

Materials – A natural stone fire pit is beautiful. It can be the landmark of beautiful outdoor living space and a great place to spend time with your friends and family. The color choices are unlimited, and every custom-made natural stone fire pit is unique. It is also an expensive option – think two to three thousand depending on size and location. Natural stone is likely to crack (or even explode) due to direct contact with heat. If you are going to invest in a natural stone wood-burning fire pit, we recommend using a fire-brick liner to keep the stones from getting excessively hot. If you make this kind of investment you want it done right so that it will last.

Manufactured block makes a nice fire pit at less than half the cost of natural stone. It’s not as artistic, but it is very functional and can be the site of many good times. Also today there are many styles of landscaping block to meet your tastes. These projects range from the do-it-yourself kits from Lowe’s or Home Depot for two hundred dollars to professionally designed and installed projects which can cost between seven hundred and one thousand, five hundred. A block fire pit doesn’t necessarily need a heat liner, though the use of a metal ring or fire brick may reduce cracking or excessive drying out and thus extend the life of the block.

Wood or Gas – A wood fire can be enchanting as well as warming. When considering wood for a fire pit the primary driver is the charm of a natural fire. Design considerations include ensuring that the bottom of the pit will drain when it rains, and determining where firewood is going to be stored.

Gas compared to wood has many pros and cons. Gas is easier to start and quicker to extinguish, has less smoke, takes less effort to tend, and there is no need to buy and store firewood. Gas fire pits are less costly to design for drainage and have less need for fire brick liners. On the other hand, it may be more expensive to install depending on where gas lines have to be run. Also, you will want to design the structure so that if something goes wrong with the lines or the ignition electronics, you can access the parts in need of repair. A wide variety of glass crystals and beads are available for gas fire pits to enhance the look of the finished product.

In the end, the choice between wood or gas comes down to what works best for you.

If you are ready to ignite your outdoor living enjoyment with a custom fire pit contact Archadeck of Central SC to learn more about placement, size, construction, costs, and much more. Call us today for a free consultation (803) 784-1566 or via email at
centralsc@archadeck.net

The Archadeck of Central SC team – Mike Reu, Marshall Reu, and Tucker Reu

You can see more inspiring photos of the outdoor fire pit and outdoor fireplace designs by visiting our outdoor fireplace and fire pit photo gallery located on our website.