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Wednesday 29 June 2011

Gel fire pit


Fire pits are a great feature for any backyard or garden. For some people getting access to fire wood and easily extinguishing the pit can be a hassle. This is particularly true when they are used at locations such as commercial resorts. For places that need to quickly turn on and turn off fire pits a propane or gel fire pit may be a good solution.

Propane
fire pits have a hose that connects to a standard propane tank for easy lighting. These types of pits can work well if the tank can be easily hidden. Some pits are designed so that the tank can be hidden in a cylinder or if the landscaping is sufficient it can be designed in.

While this is an excellent solution some prefer to have the
fire pit untethered or free from gas lines and can't easily hide the tank in any location. A good example might be a resort that wants to put pits out on the beachfront property. For these situations gel might be the answer. These are designed with ceramic logs and then places to put a gel canister. If you have ever been to a catered event you have probably seen the gel canisters used to heat the food. This is the same concept except that the flames are much larger.

The
gel canisters are placed underneath the ceramic logs. This makes it incredibly easy to light and then extinguish the fire at a moments notice. It may not be quite as warm as other fire pits, but if you are looking for quick use and aesthetics this may be the right fit for you.

Sunday 26 June 2011

A Backyard Fire Pit - Do It Yourself Today

If you've been looking at buying a fire pit, then you're probably already aware that you can buy ready-made models that only require some simple assembly. But wouldn't it be nice to create your own fire pit? One that's uniquely yours? You don't need a complicated set of blueprints to build your own fire pit - you just need to have an idea in your head of what you're trying to create. It doesn't take a lot to build a fire pit for barbequing or an outdoor campfire. A DIY fire pit can cost next to nothing to construct, apart from some time and hard work, and is even cheaper if you already have some materials such as bricks or rocks on hand.

The first step is to choose a safe location for your fire pit. Make sure it's nowhere near any structures that could catch fire, and locate it away from any
backyard traffic zones. It's also worth talking to your local fire department in case you need to know any particular rules or information before starting. Organize to have some stones or bricks ready for lining the inside of your fire pit. Then all you need to do is dig the hole. This might take a few hours of hard work with a shovel, but that's all.

Once your hole is deep enough, use the stones or bricks to line the perimeter of the hole, and continue these materials above the ground. You need the stones around the top to form a windbreak and to stop soil falling into the fire. If you want something a little fancier, you can build a stucco pit above the ground. Use magazines and the Internet to help give you lots of great ideas for your fire pit design. Think about your existing home and outdoor furniture, and design your fire pit to complement these existing elements in your backyard. If you're really stuck for ideas or want to create something a little more complicated, it's possible to order plans online that include a list of materials, and it's generally not very expensive.

Now you have a fire pit, safety is always important. Remember, this is a big hole in the ground, and you don't want any accidents. So it might be a good idea to cover the
pit when it's not being used. You can just use a piece of scrap metal or wooden board and cut it to fit. You can also choose to buy a basic fire pit, which will generally include the basics such as a cover, log grill and spark screen, and then build a brick or stone wall around that. This will help stop pets or children from running into the fire pit by accident.

For a gas
fire pit, you will need to buy either gas fire logs or a simple metal fire ring. Then you simply need to design and build the housing.

Whatever you decided, it's great to do it yourself and have a fire pit that will be the envy of all your neighbors.

Saturday 25 June 2011

How to Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

What better way to light the night and ward off the chill of winter than sitting in front of an outdoor firepit with a steaming cup of cocoa? Building a fire pit is labor intensive but a great way to add beauty to the backyard. Here are a few tips for how to build an outdoor fire pit using natural stone.

Before starting the build there are a few safety items to keep in mind. Digging up the
backyard can be hazardous without some precautions. Be sure to call your utility companies to come out and check for any buried lines, or pipes. You don't want to end up rupturing a gas line or hitting a sewer pipe! The other concern is building the fire pit away from any overhead obstructions. Catching a tree or roof on fire is a really fast way to spoil an evening in front of the fire pit.

If you're looking to put in a large
fire pit then you might want to consider renting a small backhoe. They aren't cheap but it certainly makes life easier. You won't break your back shoveling and you'll have the hole finished in only a couple bucket loads.

Now that you've got a huge hole in the
backyard it's time to pretty it up.
The first step is to line the sides and bottom of your new fire pit. Landscape shops will have a great variety of natural stone available. For the sides of the fire pit use some flat stone such as slate. This will help shed water and funnel any runoff to the deepest part of the pit. You can cement the stones into place for added strength.

For the bottom of the
pit just pour in a couple inches of gravel. The gravel will help with drainage and you won't have to worry about having a muddy mess at the bottom.

Once you've finished up with the walls and bottom of the
fire pit it's time to tie the whole thing together with a decorative border. Pour another layer of gravel a few inches deep around the entire edge of the fire pit. An attractive option is to use really large smooth rounded rocks, almost boulders for the edge. Be careful they're heavy. Place the rocks all along the outside edge of the hole. You'll want to wiggle them back and forth to make sure they nestle into the gravel.
The next step is to fill in any gaps between the stones with smaller sized rocks. Keep working your way down in size until you have a uniform rock wall edging completely encircling the fire pit.

The only thing left to do is clean up! All the dirt you dug out of the fire pit can be used to start a garden, build a raised flower bed, or fill in any depressed spots in the yard.

There you have it, how to build an outdoor fire pit using natural stone. It's an exhausting task but one you'll be able to enjoy all year long. Just add wood and cocoa!

Fire Pit Tables - Cozy Nights by a Warm Fire

If you are looking to decorate your patio, create a lovely outdoor setting or complete your outdoor entertaining area, you will be interested in one of the hottest trends in outdoor furniture, the patio fire pit table. These fire pit tables are a popular option in outdoor furnishings because of the benefits they offer, as well as the feel they give to your outdoor space.

What is drawing in most people to opt for a
fire pit table over a regular fire bowl or pit is its ability to be used as an outdoor or patio table. And depending on the size and style of the model you choose, some are large enough to be used as a dining table. This is a lot of fun to be able to sit around a warm fire at night with friends and enjoy a delicious dinner. With this type of model, there is usually a protective dome or screen which can be placed over the fire bowl, to protect you from sparks when sitting close to the fire.

Fire
pit tables can be a wonderful way to liven up a dinner party or outdoor gathering. People are often drawn to sit close to a fireplace to enjoy the warmth they provide as well as the cozy atmosphere they create. This makes your backyard or patio, a great spot for chatting and a fun gathering area for guests. And not only can you enjoy a lovely dinner, but you can have a tasty dessert also. Roasting marshmallows and making "smores" is always a fun past time, and another enjoyable event of the evening.

When perusing at the different fire pit tables available, you will notice that a few designs actually have an extra piece that comes with the
table. This is used to cover the fire bowl when not in use, to completely convert your fire pit table into a regular outdoor dining or patio table.

You will also find choices in the fuel source of your fire pit table. Wood burning models tend to be very popular as people love to make their own cozy wood
fire. But propane models are becoming more widespread as people learn the benefits they provide. These propane fire pit tables are very easy to use, allowing you to turn your fire on in an instant. A natural gas model is also a possibility, albeit less common. These aren't portable like the other two options, as they are connected to the gas lines of the home.

Choose a design that you love the look of, and get ready to enjoy many cozy nights near a warm
fireplace.

Begin your search for the ultimate
fire table for your patio or backyard. Have a look at the different designs available and read in depth reviews of popular fire pit tables, which have been rated highly in quality, beauty and function to assist you in your choice.

Thursday 23 June 2011

How to Make an Outdoor Firepit

An outdoor firepit is one of the simplest and easiest ways to enjoy your yard on an autumn evening. They take hardly any time at all to design and build. In fact you can probably get it accomplished in only a few hours on the weekend. So do you want to know how to make an outdoor firepit? Easy just follow a few easy steps.

Pick a spot in your yard that you don't mind digging up! The location should be clear of anything overhead that might catch fire.


Next on the safety side of things is to put a call into the utility company. Have them come out and mark any buried lines. You don't want to end up cutting any buried cables.


Once they've marked the location grab your shovel and pretend that you're a kid again trying to dig to China.


The hole you dig should be about 3 feet in diameter and about 24 inches deep. It doesn't need to be anything elaborate; a circular hole in the ground is all you're shooting for here.


Use the back of the shovel and compact the sides and bottom of the soon to be firepit.


This could be it! Really just a hole in the ground is all you need. But you might as well make it a pretty hole.

To keep the sides stable pour a couple bags of river rock into the pit. This will help with water drainage. Try and line the sides as well as bottom.


The next step is for beauty as well as safety; you don't want someone falling into your new firepit. A really attractive solution is to ring the pit with natural flagstones. These flat rocks lend themselves perfectly to decorative stacking.


Lay a row of large flagstones around the edge of your
firepit. For added sturdiness rock them back and forth to set them in the ground. Once complete just keep stacking more flagstones on top. Be sure that they fit well together without any shakiness.

You don't need a very high ring around the firepit, a foot is plenty.


Use some of the dirt that you dug out of the hole and put a small layer around the base of the flagstone ring to further secure it into place. You don't need much just enough to fill in any weak spots that might have a bit of wobble to them.


The last thing to do is getting rid of all the dirt you dug out.


This is a great time to fill in any low spots in your yard. Just dump the dirt out there and level it out.


There you have it a quick and easy
fire pit with natural flagstone fire ring around it. All you need now is a few chunks of wood, some old newspapers, and a lighter. In no time you'll have a crackling fire to sit around and make s'mores, roast hot dogs, you name it That's how to make an outdoor firepit fun as well as tasty!

Sunday 12 June 2011

4 Reasons to Have a Backyard Fire Pit

There are many different items you can use for outdoor cooking. There are propane or charcoal grills, custom brick grills, there are smokers, small electric grills used for camping, or simply a campfire, and there are also backyard fire pits. Grills can be expensive and require regular cleanup. Smokers are great for barbeque but cook very slowly. Smaller camping grills just don't have the capacity to cook enough food for entertaining. A campfire without a pit can be dangerous and is not allowed in many cities.

One advantage of
fire pits is you can set one up very easily. In fact, many people can do it themselves with basic materials like brick or stone and a cast iron frame. You could also put one together with an affordable kit. Simply follow the instructions from your kit or search for do it yourself plans online.

These pits can be a great place to entertain friends and family. On a cool evening you can simply sit around the fire and talk, you can roast marshmallows and make s'mores, or use it for cooking. A properly made pit offers all of the entertainment value of a campfire while still being safe in residential areas.


There are attachments available for pits that allow you to cook, rotisserie, and grill over a pit. With these attachments you can cook meat, kabobs, and anything else that a grill can do. Changing the wood or charcoal you use can also easily change the flavor of the meat that you are cooking in a pit.


Backyard
fire pits offer a chance for friends and family to spend time together watching a fire without having to camp. Camping is an easy and fun way to get away for a weekend but there are advantages to staying home. You can get together for a couple of hours in the middle of the weak, you do not have to buy camping supplies when staying home, you do not have to drive several hours to find a decent campsite, and you do not have to pay for any passes or other fees.

Camping is a great way to get together and enjoy a warm fire. Unfortunately it is not always possible to get away. Grilling is a great way to cook certain meats and vegetables but is not the same as an open fire. These fire pits offer the best of both worlds for people looking to entertain in their backyards.

Friday 10 June 2011

Fire Pit Table - Warm Up This Winter in Style

What is a fire pit table? What does it do? A popular new trend in outdoor heating is to have your own fire going, on your patio or deck. Providing great warmth to the area and looking stylish at the same time. That sounds like a lot of trouble though, having to build your own fire. How do you contain it? That's where a fire pit table comes in. Warming up with a fire becomes an extremely easy thing to do. What a fire pit does is keep a fire controlled and contained in one area, the "pit". This makes it very safe to have one, even in quite a small area like a patio.

Having your own fire pit table brings many benefits. It allows you to enjoy being outside on chilly afternoons and long into late cold evenings. Although, you won't be cold as you will have the constant heat from your fire warming you up. They are cozy for two people and can be enough to warm a whole group of people, making them fantastic for gatherings and parties. So you won't have to freeze if you want to spend some time outdoors. These outdoor fireplaces allow you to enjoy your patio or backyard at all times of the year.


A traditional
fire pit was one that you build yourself. You had to dig a large hole in the ground in your backyard and then line it with rocks. Building your own is not an option if you want your fire on your patio or deck, as well as sounding a bit too backbreaking for some of us. We want the luxury without the burden. The detrimental attribute of having a built in fire place, is that you cannot move it. What if you decide to move house, or you simply are going on a trip, you would not be able to take it with you. The same principle applies if you go for a more elaborate route and decide to have a custom built fireplace built into your backyard. Not only is this costly and time-consuming, but they are stationary as well.

Pre-built fire pits are becoming increasing popular as an accessible outdoor heating solution. The majority of them are very simple to put together and set up for use. People with little to no experience in starting fires can learn to use them comfortably with ease.

Patio fire pits come in a variety of different designs and models.


A fire pit table is just like an outside or patio table with a submerged bowl for your fire in the center of it. They are usually circular or square in shape and can be made of an assortment of materials including cast-aluminum, marble, slate, and steel. What's really marvelous about a fire pit table is its added functionality. Dinner parties will take on a whole new vibe, with sitting around an elegant patio fire pit table. Most have enough room for dinner plates, glasses and dishes to sit comfortably on the frame of the table, with the fire itself being covered and contained by a protective mesh dome. This allows you to have patio chairs right at the table, and enjoy sitting at the table safely, without any sparks from the fire touching you. A beautiful addition to any patio or deck, the fire pit table creates a lovely ambiance. They are very inviting to sit at to enjoy a conversation or to relax at, with a cocktail or coffee.

Another fire pit design is one with a large circular bowl. These do not have a border or tile, so cannot be used as a table. Instead they offer a nice amount of space inside a bowl to store wood logs. You can create a classic camp fire look with one of these. They come in large and smaller varieties, so you can choose what style you are going for, and how big you want your fires to be.


When choosing your fire pit table or patio fire, be sure to find out if it is wood burning or gas burning. There are distinctions to both.


A wood burning model burns using wood logs or artificial logs. You get that classic smell and feel with a wood burning fire. Plus you can roast marshmallows and other treats with a wood fire. Or if you wanted to you could buy a grill that fits over your wood fire pit; a couple of models actually come included with a cooking grill. Then you could use your fire as a barbecue and cook meals with it.

Gas burning styles are perfect for those who live in areas where wood burning is not permitted due to
fire hazard or air quality issues. They can run off either natural gas, which needs to be connected to a home's gas lines; or they can run off a connected propane tank. Gas fires are the easiest fires to light, with many newer models having electric ignition. This means lighting a fire is as simple as pushing a button or flicking a switch. Otherwise, long stem gas igniters would be used.

When choosing an outdoor fire pit that suits you, keep in mind where you want to use it. A patio fire pit table works great for smaller areas where you don't really want a large fire, but you still want to warm up the area nicely. You can create a warm and pleasant patio which is very inviting and comfortable, allowing you to enjoy your evenings outside, when it would otherwise be too cold. From cocktails and coffees, to lunches and dinners, a fire pit table provides an elegant and attractive, yet extremely useful addition to any patio.

Thursday 9 June 2011

Garden DIY - Building a Fire Pit

A fire pit is the most basic, but also the most attractive, type of garden heater and it can be built very simply with a limited amount of DIY skill.

What is a fire pit?


In its simplest form, a fire pit is nothing more than a hole in the ground into which wood or coal can be placed and ignited. Most fire pits are however more involved than this and their design takes account of aesthetics and a more permanent structure.


Generally some form of seating or benching, along with a hard landscaped area, are also part of most fire pit projects.

The basic design


The main functional feature of a fire pit is an excavated hole in the ground. This hole is usually circular and has a diameter of not less than 18 inches. Most fire pits will be between 2 and 3 feet in diameter and the base of the pit will be between 6 inches and one foot below the surrounding finished ground level.


In order to make the fire pit more functional, more attractive and more versatile, a small wall is built around the perimeter of the pit. This enclosing wall will usually be between 12 to 18 inches high. It acts to contain the fire, tidy up the appearance and radiate and convect heat outwards from the fire pit.


A more complete design also supplements the fire pit with some surrounding hard landscaping and masonry bench seating.

The build


1. The first task is to find a suitable location. This should be away from buildings and other flammable materials and vegetation. The area should be generally flat and well drained.


2. Next, sand or chalk should be used to make a visible impression of the pits shape on the ground enabling the pit to be excavated. The base of the pit should be made of at least 6 inches of concrete, or better still 6 inches of compacted hardcore with a further 6 inches of concrete on top. This would require a dig of about 18 inches. This should require nothing more than a spade.


Important: If you intend to build the "
fire pit wall" on a concrete base, then the pit diameter should be adjusted to allow for the additional width of the fire pit wall. This will save the need for a separate footing.

3. Once the fire pit base is complete and the concrete has set, it will be possible to build the fire pit wall. The wall will run around the perimeter of the fire pit and enclose it.


This wall may be made of loose-laid stone or brick, or of mortar bonded masonry. If the latter is the case, then an additional mortar layer can be used to line the internal surface of the wall. In either case the stones or bricks should be staggered for stability and appearance.

4. Whilst this completes the main fire pit project, pavers, paving slabs, cobbles or brick sets can be used to create a clean and hard wearing surface around the fire pit.

Tuesday 7 June 2011

Stone Fire Pit

There is one thing that can make a very big difference between having something that you use and that can help you from time to time and thee is a completely other thing which can be used from time to time but just having it will make your guests and yourself gaze and admire it, one such thing is a stone fire pit.

A stone fire pit is one of the most impressive things you can have in your garden, or in your outdoor kitchen, this unique idea has not been around for many years, but in the last few years people are more and more interested in having a stone fire pit in their garden or backyard. The stone fire pit looks like it is connected to the past, maybe a few hundreds of years ago almost every family in town had one but today it is truly a unique thing to have.


One of the great things in having a stone fire pit outside is that you will get a lot of freedom in deciding how it is going to look, and its looks is all what it's about, the stone fire pit will be impressive no matter what why you make it when it is lit and the fire is on, the question is how would you like it to look when its off, and how would you like the stone of the fire pit to relate to your garden and garden features.


The important things to remember when looking for a
stone fire pit are that you will need someone who knows how to design those, so that the fire is solid and that there is enough air flow to feed the fire so it is balanced on all sides of the stone structure, that it is safe and that you can approach the fire if you wish, some people like to get close to the fire pit in order to get warm or to fry marshmallows, either way you will need to make sure that the person in charge of building it knows what he is doing.

The basic design of a stone fire pit is almost always the same, and it is a very good opportunity for you to go wild and get whatever you had in mind, the only things you will need to consider are safety and usability of the stone structure, but other than that the stone fire pit is really about having something very impressive in your garden and that it will generate enough heat in the winter to keep you warm while you sit outside.


For those of you who are interested in something even more unique is the option to experiment with different stones and try and get all kinds of stones for the fire pit construction, this may cost a little more but it will guarantee that this will be one stone fire pit people will not forget, nevertheless, even a regular stone fire pit is something to be proud of.

Monday 6 June 2011

Fire Pit Popularity

The fire pits popularity is on the rise, many people seem to prefer to have a fire pit at their back yard then invest in bigger and more complicated fire holding elements, the choice is clear since most fire pits are very easy to maintain and take care of, and they do not cost a lot of money, some even produce their own fire pits, letting their imaginations run wild, and their creative side flourish.

The summer had encouraged many home owners to seek a fire pit that will serve their needs, some like to use a fire pit as a garden feature and as a source of light in the evenings and night, while they spend time in the backyard, and some use the fire pit for cooking and smoking meat, which does not prevent its use as an element of light as well.


There are still many who are fascinated by fire pits and would go through a lot of efforts to find and purchase the right kind of pit for their home, many use an indoor fire pit. With many new and modern designs the fire pit has changed the way we think about fire featured elements indoors, like the fire place, traditional old world design items are now moving and shifting to adjust to the new way houses are built and family rooms are designed by interior designers.


The great thing about the fire pit is that it has the potential of replacing most of the fire featured items in the house as well as out of the house, and it is easy to build and maintain, and not expensive to purchase. Even if you have only little experience in product designing and building your own furniture you stand a very good chance to enjoy building your very own fire pit and using it later. Many people who build a fire pit do that because they intend on cooking with it and they need a non standard size or shape to fit their cooking needs, in these cases the fire pit design should be one that will allow use of the item for other purposes and provide flexibility of use.

One thing most people who are interested in fire pits should know is that you should think about the location of the fire pit even before you start building it, there is great importance to the location, as it will affect the frequency of use and the whole look of the outdoor space in which it is positioned. Many are to eager to have a fire pit and than build one that is too small to use for lighting proposes or for heat generation during cool nights, and unfortunately loss a lot of the potential of their fire pit.


There are many reasons to why fire pits are becoming so popular and there have been many answers to this phenomena, but the real fact is the most of us just enjoy fire and like to have it around for cooking and heat, as well as for providing more character and charm to our backyards.


fire pits are a great way to upgrade your backyard or garden, there are many different designs and looks to fire pits, and many ways you can use them. Read and learn more about fire pits and outdoor fire pits.

Sunday 5 June 2011

Fire Pit Basics

Summer is near and an a fire pit is something that a lot of us can use, an outdoor fire pit can be used on cold nights and make your backyard a little more special for your guests and for yourself as you enjoy your garden and outdoor space with a nice fire pit.

There are a lot of different fire fit options today, you definitely do not need to build your own fire pit, you can find a fire pit in many home shops, and there are even some special designers that work on fire pits.


On top of the different options you have in selecting the fire pit you would want to have in your backyard, you can use a fire pit on your picnics and outings, a fire pit can be moved form place to place and used as a cooking device almost anywhere, the variety of materials of which fire pit are made today allows you to choose from the traditional to the modern, and with this fire pit variety comes many options for the cleaning and accessories you can get for your fire pit.

If you are interested in having a little bit more fun this summer, you may want to consider purchasing a fire pit. An outdoor fire pit is one of the best ways to enjoy a beautiful summer night. From wood fire pit, that you may remember using at you parents or even grandparents house, to the gas fire pit most people use today, it seems that fire pit selection has never been so vast, this is the time to think about integrating a fire pit to your back yard and start enjoying the advantages of this open fire, you are not limited to your back yard, with a fire pit you can travel and take it with you, so that your acquired taste to your fire pit doesn't have to limit you to your own house. But before you get to excited and start lighting stuff on fire, you will want to learn about the details of an outdoor fire pit.


Contrary to popular belief, an outdoor fire pit can be bought from a number of different stores. Many people think that you will have to build your own pit, and this immediately discourages them. Nobody wants to deal with the building and cleaning up of a makeshift outdoor fire pit. But luckily there are many models that you can purchase.

Most fire pits have mesh siding that allows for spectators to see into the pit, and for heat to escape. This is a huge advantage on cold nights where you may need a little bit of extra heat to stay comfortable.


A fire pit makes a great edition to any yard. A fire pit may be all you need in order to significantly improve your yard. Plan a party around your outdoor fire pit this summer, and show everybody how fun one can be. You may be surprised to find out that you will have a very good time, and end up doing it again and again.