A Patio Fire Pit Creates New Outdoor Excitement

Need a new way to add excitement to your beloved outdoor area? Is your deck or patio only occupied by a table and some chairs? You can easily turn your once drab patio into a warm inviting entertainment area by simply adding a patio fire pit.

Our decks and patios are the first place we turn to for entertaining family and friends. Once the sun goes down and the evening air becomes cold, there is nothing worse than having to move the party indoors. What if you could use your outdoor area all day and all year long? The addition of a simple and affordable outdoor heat source will give you that ability. There are many options for keeping your guests warm as the temps start to drop. A patio fire pit, fire place, or heater will make your outdoor gatherings last long into the night and through all the seasons.

Unfortunately some folks aren't so fortunate to have a deck or patio to enjoy and must take the party to the backyard. Backyard fire pits are the best way to get the family in the backyard and out of the house from in front of the TV or computer. There are many ways to enjoy a fire in your backyard- from a simple fire ring to a custom hand built in ground pit.

The patio fire pit offers a comprehensive guide to selecting the perfect outdoor heat source for your deck, patio or backyard. You will find a diverse array of traditional pits, heaters, fire rings, fire places, and all the accessories sure to complement any of these. There is also a great selection of information, articles, and videos detailing how to build backyard pits, both wood burning and gas fueled. Get over to The patio fire pit dot com and get prepared for the cold.

How to Build a Multi Purpose Fire Pit for Your Backyard

Today backyard family get togethers and parties have multitudes of choices for not only things to do, but also ways to get the fun times done. One of the things that families can do together is to build a fire and sit around playing music or chatting and even have grandpa tell a scary story or two for the kids around the fire.

Talking about building a fire is one thing, but it should be done safely. Having a fire pit is one safe way to have that fun we're talking about. Fire pits come in many different sizes and shapes. You can purchase them just about any where there's a discount store.

Customize It

Or, you can build your own and have it customized to your liking. In this guide, rather than calling it an article, I'm going to tell you how to build your own outdoor fire pit. There are 2 types of fire pits:

Wood, or Charcoal burning
And Gas fire pits

The type that you will learn how to build is wood. I'm partial to the wood or charco al pits cause they are just better in terms of the wood smells and it looks better. To me a gas fire outside is just fake. But, hey they serve the purpose so whatever your choice is you can't go wrong.

Choose Your Style and Shape

Anyways, lets get on with building our fire pit out in the backyard. Our fire pit will be built as an "in ground" one. You can of course have an above ground one also. The style of our pit could be endless. Specifically in terms of decoration, type of brick or stone to use with it. Even colors are endless. You decide on the look of your pit.

Some shapes of pits include but are not limited to:

Round and Bowl shaped
Rectangular
Square
Octagon
And Pentagon shaped

Your imagination here is unlimited. Choose your shape then determine what size you want it to be. For this How To I will use the standard square shape. When determining your size to build, your first idea would be to find a safe place away from your house or even your deck if it is made of wood. We don't want any wild fires going on so we choose a place out in the middle of the yard.

If You Build It, They will come

Away from any low hanging trees or wires, bushes, etc.. Now that we've found our place to build it let's measure out a 3 foot by 3 foot square. Here again it can be as large or small as you want. Just take safety into consideration. After our measurements for size we mark those corners of the square off. Now before we begin to dig out our fire pit, how far down should we dig it?

Dig your fire pits no deeper than 3/4 of your arms length. Why that deep? Because every so often you'll need to clean it out. Clean out the ashes, dirt and so on. This way you don't have to climb down in it to clean it out. You'll still be able to reach to the bottom of it with your arm or even a broom and pick up pan.

Using a standard garden shovel we dig our fire pit within the measurements we marked off. Taking care to only dig about 1 1/2' deep. Or 3/4 arms length. After digging out your pit make sure that the sides of the pit are level and smooth. Removing any rocks or stones that would keep the sides and bottom from being level.

The reason you do this is when you place your bricks or stone in there to make the sides and bottom, it will also be level and perpendicular. You can even use sand to help you level the bottom of it. Now that you have your pit dug out and a big pile of dirt laying up there, its time to install the interior of the fire pit. At this time you should already have your chosen bricks or rock or stone to use on the inside.

You can use cement to strengthen the sides and bottom of it but I don't see the need, since the fire will be in the ground anyway. For this case we just use regular landscaping rock or brick. Then just lay the first layer of brick in the bottom around the sides.

Now fill in the rest of the bottom or floor of the pit. To make it fit right you may have to cut some of the bricks. Use a masonry saw for this. Once you have your pit floor completed, begin laying and stacking the brick around the sides of the pit.

Depending on how you want to make it at the corners you can either join them together or overlap them. But to join them you'll have to make custom cuts to the bricks. Continue filling up the sides of the pit by stacking your bricks.

Once you've reached the top of the fire pit, you may notice that the actual fire place will be smaller. But that's OK, we have a nice small fire pit to enjoy. From here you can do things like creating a deck out around the fire pit. Again your imagination is the limit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Backyard Fire Pits

Do you anticipate cool weather this evening, and a cloudless sky filled with twinkling stars? It sounds like the perfect night to gather friends and family and sit out on the back deck or in the yard with a blazing fire pit. As the warmth spreads around your circle you can enjoy hours of conversation, a warm beverage, or even a toasted marshmallow or two. If you don't have a place for a backyard fire and have considered setting up a fire pit, you want to be sure you know everything relevant to installation and that you are kept up to date on emergency procedures.

Here are some frequently asked questions about building a backyard fire shoppe or fire pit. It's always a good idea, too, to consult with somebody at your local outdoor store who has experience in installation and safety.

1) What kind of setting do I need for my fire pit?

This will actually depend upon what sort of product you buy to contain your burning wood. When it comes to backyard recreation, you can set up anything from a simple fire ring - a wide band of metal fashioned in a loop that contains the wood and ash - to a chimenea, which is a bulbous container with two open ends - one to hold the wood and a chimney-like spout for the smoke. There are also more elaborate designs for outdoor fireplaces that may require a bit of planning to execute. When it comes to your backyard comfort, you have many options - you only need to find the right one for your yard layout.

2) What should I do in my back yard before I start a fire in the pit?

It is important to make sure the area is cleared of flammable debris. This means dry grass and tree limbs, leaves and brush. There will be smoke, so make sure you know how the wind will blow that day so you don't end up blowing smoke into your house. If you have a fire bowl on chimenea on a wooden deck, consider setting up a pad underneath to catch stray ash. Always have a fire extinguisher nearby for emergencies.

3) What kind of wood can I burn?

Convenient they may be, you want to avoid using the specialized, pressure-treated fireplace logs. These tend to release toxic gases as they burn, and you definitely don't want to cook over an open grill with them! Hard woods like maple, pecan, and hickory work nicely for outdoor burning - you can consult with your local outdoor store expert on woods in your area.

Why a Fire Pit Table Is an Excellent Choice in Outdoor Heating

A fire pit table is becoming a very popular choice in outdoor heating solutions. When the cooler months of the year arrive, you realize you can't enjoy sitting outside in the fresh air whether it is in the afternoon or late into the evening. It is simply too cold to spend much time at all on your patio or deck. This is where a fire pit table comes in really handy. You are provided with all the warmth you will need to relax outside with great company, and enjoy the lovely night sky. Whether you want to have some fun cocktails with friends, a bottle of wine for two, or a nice cup of coffee, you can do so in a cozy and warm environment, sitting around your fire pit table.

The biggest advantage of owning a fire pit table is that you can use it as a dining table. You can have an elegant dinner for two or throw a lively dinner party. You and your guests will love sitting around a fire pit dining table as it will keep them incredibly warm, as well as being a lot of fun. Your patio doesn't need to go unused in cooler weather because it is too chilly outside. Plus, dining outside is way more fun and enjoyable than simply eating indoors, and you can roast marshmallows for dessert! You can also use your fire pit table as a coffee, lunch, snack or cocktail table, that way you can enjoy using it at any time of the day.

Anyone who owns a fire pit table will tell you how it creates a beautiful ambiance to your patio or deck. It can turn an empty and uninteresting outside area into a warm and inviting place to be. Your guests will be drawn to enjoy sitting and chatting around a warm fireplace, creating a great conversational area. The right fire pit table can bring an elegance and style to your patio, and be a center-point in your outdoor decor.

An added benefit of a fire pit table is that they are extremely easy to use. Building your own fire pit consists of digging a large hole in your backyard and then creating a circle of rocks around it. This is quite a lot of effort and is simply not possible on a patio or deck. Instead luckily, pre-built fire places are available and at very affordable prices as well. The best thing with many models is that they are easy to set up and use. If you choose a lightweight design you will be able to move it around with ease.

They consist of a normal outdoor dining table, but with a fire bowl embedded into the center of the piece. A variety of materials can be used in construction including cast-aluminum, copper, slate and steel. When you are choosing a fire pit table for your patio, make sure you choose a well made piece that will last you a long time. It should be sturdy and solid, with an appearance that is attractive to you. Look for a size of table that will fit nicely in your outdoor area. Also make sure it has plenty of space for plates and glasses to ensure you can have comfortable dinners on it.

Check as to whether it is a wood burning or gas burning fire, and decide which would better suit your needs. Wood burning models use wood logs, artificial logs, or charcoal, are usually lightweight and therefore easy to move. You can safely roast marshmallows and other treats over a wood fire. A gas model runs off either natural gas or propane gas. The former needs to be connected to the gas lines inside your house, while the latter uses a propane tank, varying in size depending on the model. Gas designs tend to be a bit more expensive and heavier, but have the bonus of being very easy to turn on and off, with the push of a button.

Fire pit tables are also safe to use as they contain the fire within the "pit". Many models include a safety screen which you can place over the fire to protect you from any sparks, great for when you are sitting close to the fire having a nice meal.

Build An Indoor Fire Pit

If you appreciate the use of a fire pit and you can see its potential as a good home decoration, you can certainly build your own. building your own will certainly bring a different environment in your house. In this case, if you are wondering how to build one, here are some guidelines that you can consider:

Look for the expert. For sure there are people that offer building premade pits. If you know someone, you should ask them for their services if you are that serious in building an indoor pit. The sooner you get one, the sooner you can get your own indoor pit.

You should think of your own design. It is important that you completely convey all the things you like to the expert you hired so that they can base the structure of the pit according to the characteristics you want.

Ask the expert the materials needed to start the project. Make sure to point out that you want the best or quality material.

After you procured the list of materials, the next thing that you should do is to purchase it. If you are working on a budget, just look for stores that offer quality materials but not as expensive.

Wait for it and be prepared to be amazed.

If you have no idea about pit types, the following are useful information that can help you decide and determine the appropriate type for you:

Portable Pits
Gas
Propane
Copper
Stone or Brick
Others

There you go. Whatever you have in mind, whether you want to combine types or you settle for a single type and make it your own, you should learn safety precautions. You want to be safe especially when you use it right? So in this regard, safety precautions include:

If you are using propane or natural gas, before starting the fire, you should check hoses and valves for leaks. Prevention is better than cure right? This won't take time anyway so before starting fire, always keep in mind to check.

After you made fire, the next concern is to control the fire. In order to do this, you should start a slow fire and keep away from dry leaves, woods and other flammable debris around. Create a fire that is stable.

If you are having a party or an event in your house, you should keep an eye to the people around especially children to avoid any burning situation.

If you want to use it continuously, you should stock supplies especially if there is an event. If you are using woods, pile them and if you are using gas or propane, just stock considerable amount for continuous use.

Building an indoor fire pit is possible if you are really serious. You should not worry because you can for sure find experts that can make you an amazing pit. The good news is that indoor fire pits are not that expensive so you can enjoy its use and the beauty it brings.

Outdoor Fire Pit Safety - Common Sense Guidelines For Safe Use Of Your Outdoor Fire Pit

Building the fire
It's generally best to start slow and keep the fire well-controlled. Most experts recommend that you use natural materials such as kindling or commercially available fire starter sticks for starting a fire rather than lighter fluids or other chemical products. These natural materials generally give you greater control as they start a little more slowly. Starting a fire too quickly can easily allow it to get out of control before you know it. Most experts also agree that a fire will last longer if you start small. For yours and your family's safety, start small - go slow!

Another consideration of fire building is the stacking of wood and kindling. Again, for greater control and higher levels of safety, be careful to not stack the wood/kindling too high in the outdoor fire pit. Often times, as wood burns, it shifts and falls. This can create a very dangerous situation very quickly - especially if the wood is stacked high.

Positioning of Your Outdoor Fire pit
Another important factor in proper use of your outdoor fire pit is to keep your fire pit a safe distance from your home and any outdoor furniture or other flammable materials. Experts recommend it be placed at least ten feet from your home and three to five feet from furniture, plants, foliage, etc. It takes only seconds for disaster to strike. Also make sure that your fire pit is placed on a steady/level surface.

In addition, it is recommended that you clear away brush and dead/dry vegetation in about a 15 to 20-foot circle around your fire pit, and avoid placing your fire pit near low hanging trees where errant sparks and heat might ignite dry foliage and branches. A spark screen is recommended. Keep a working fire extinguisher or garden hose with a spray nozzle nearby, so that if sparks do escape the fire, you can smother them quickly. Never place a fire pit in an enclosed area; fumes from it can be harmful without proper ventilation.

Liquid Propane (LP) and Natural Gas (NG) Fires
LP and NG Fires generally require less attention/tending and are more convenient and easy to light. However, there are important precautions to take when using these types of products as well. Before each use of your LP or NG Fire products, you should check all of the hoses, valves and attachments to make sure there are no leaks or holes before introducing any kind of flame or spark. If your LP or NG fire product uses a pilot-light for fire starting, be sure to check it periodically to make sure it has not been blown out and that combustible gases are not leaking into your fire area. Always know how and where to shut of your LP or NG supply in case of an emergency.

Personal Protection
Last, but certainly not least, be sure to protect yourself! Never handle hot fire pits or embers. Always allow the pit and other fire materials to cool fully before cleaning, and during the burning of the fire, use a poker or log grabber to move and arrange logs.

Wood Burning Fire Pits

Wood burning fire pits are great additions to any backyard. There are many ways that you can enjoy the popping fire during the day as well as at night. With the heat, you can enjoy the outdoors even on the cool days of winter. It is important that you learn how to properly use a fire pit. Also, come up with some fun activities where you can incorporate the use of your fire.  When using fire pits, be sure that you do so in the safest way possible. It is a good idea to check with the regulations of backyard fires in your area. Some locations have requirements on where you can place a fire pit in accordance to a patio or deck. Others require that you place the pit on top of concrete or with a barrier of bricks or cement around it. Place the pit away from anything that could easily check on fire by flying embers.

Avoid using anything to fuel the fire that will make to start or progress too quickly. Gasoline is not necessary for a fire pit. Instead, use matches and kindling or newspaper to begin the fire. Wood burning fire pits should be large enough for all of the items you include inside it. Do not place a log that extends the area of the pit, as it can catch fire and cause the fire to spread.

There are many ways you can enjoy fire pits. One way is by cooking your meal on them. You can pretend to be sitting around the campfire, roasting hot dogs without even leaving your backyard. A hot dog meal is very easy to plan for, as all you need is a bit of food and a place to sit. If you want a more elaborate meal, you can purchase a pit that comes with a grill for cooking hot dogs and steaks.

Another good idea for wood burning fire pits is to roast marshmallows. Grab a long stick and place your marshmallows on the end, getting them good and warm before eating them. This makes a wonderful dessert following a meal cooked on the fire, or you can choose to just have them as a snack. If you want to go all out, get some graham crackers and chocolate candy bars and create s'mores with the roasted marshmallows.

As you can see, wood burning fire pits can be a worthy investment for your backyard. Make sure you install it in a place that will prevent the fire from spread or burning other items nearby. Get a fire pit that offers a grill top so that you can cook meals outdoors while sitting around the fire. Toward the end of the event, snack on some marshmallows or s'mores.