Now that winter is arriving, you should add a heat source to your outdoor living area, so you and your family can enjoy spending more time outdoors all winter long. While there are many ways to heat an outdoor living space, fire pits are one of the most popular outdoor heating options in the United States due to their relatively low cost and versatility.
A fire pit cannot only provide outdoor heat, but it also adds light to your outdoor space during the evening and can be used to cook foods when desired.
To choose the right fire pit for your family and yard, read on to learn about all of your fire pit options and each of their advantages.
Fire Pit Type
You have three main fire pit types to choose from: portable, custom built-in, and prefabricated pits.
While portable pits can be easily moved around your yard, they are typically made of lightweight metal. This metal can rust and corrode very quickly when exposed to the outdoor elements.
Built-in pits and installed prefabricated stationary pits are typically made of high-quality materials, such as brick, stone, or concrete that can withstand the outdoor elements for many years. These pits are also typically equipped with steel liners that protect the main fire pit material from the heat the fire creates.
While custom built-in pits are designed and fabricated on-site, prefabricated pits are constructed off-site and then installed in your yard by professional contractors. While custom built-in pits are good options for homeowners who want complete control over the fire pit design and build process, prefabricated fire pits can be just as high-quality and tend to cost less than their custom counterparts.
Fire Pit Size
An additional decision you must make is on the size of the pit. Fire pits range from about 3-feet to 6-feet in width, and the right width for your pit depends on many factors.
First, ensure your pit is small enough that all of its edges can be located at least 10 to 20 feet away from your home, plants, and any other flammable structure or surface in your yard. Next, consider whether the pit will be used to entertain large groups of people or as the centerpiece of more intimate gatherings. The greater the number of people you tend to entertain in your backyard, the larger your fire pit should be.
Fire pit wall heights can vary greatly. However, you should choose a pit with walls that are 12 to 20 inches high, because fire pit walls of this height contain the fire without holding in too much heat.
Fire Pit Fuel
You can choose a fire pit fueled by wood, propane, or natural gas. Each fuel source has its unique advantages and disadvantages.
Wood-burning fire pits can be, although are not always, less expensive than their gas-powered counterparts. This fuel source also allows you to create a more genuine campfire experience when using your fire pit. However, wood-burning pits do create smoke that gas-powered fire pits do not and must be cleaned often to remove soot and ash.
While gas-powered fire pits can be a bit more expensive than their wood-burning counterparts, gas is clean-burning and produces no smoke. These fire pits are also considered more environmentally friendly than wood-burning pits and are typically much easier to light. However, some homeowners enjoy the simplicity of wood fire pits over gas-powered ones.
If you would prefer a wood-burning fire pit, but tend to have a difficult time lighting wooden logs, then you can choose a wood-burning fire pit with a gas-powered starter, which is called a hybrid fire pit.
With a fire pit, you can enjoy your outdoor living space during the cold winter just as much as you do during the warmer months of the year. Now that you understand all of your outdoor fire pit options, contact the licensed contractors at Precise Roofing & Contracting to schedule expert outdoor fire pit installation today.
