The Do-It-Yourself Fire Pit

Having a fire pit of your own is great, but building it by your self is even greater!  With the right material and a clear step-by-step guide, you’re on your way to a warm, relaxing evening to spend with a loved one, your family, or friends.

Preparation

Gather the materials you will need for the fire pit construction.

• Stones.  You can choose from landscaping blocks, to field stones, fire bricks, or other materials that can withstand extreme heat.  Make it sure that you are using a dry material as it can explode when exposed to heat by fire.
• Drainage.  This is to catch and drain rainwater in your fire pit.  You may dig a fence post-sized hole of at least two feet deep and then fill it with gravel.
• Adhesives or mortars.  You have to option to whether or not to use adhesives between the blocks.  It is a lot easier when replacing the blocks if there is no adhesive.  However, for more permanency, it is best to use one.  Make it sure that you are using an adhesive with high heat insulation or tolerance.
• Safe area.  Before starting, make sure you have found a safe spot to put up your fire pit.  To ensure safety, you better position it in an area with no much trees and dried grass or leaves that can easily catch stray fire.  Place it away from your neighbor’s fence to prevent smoke from going over to your neighbor’s house.

Materials you will need:

• 98 pieces of wall blocks
• Steel pit ring with tabs
• Metal grate
• Sand
• Gravel

Step 1: Dig a hole about two feet wider than the fire pit size.  Create a hole by hammering a round stake at the center of the fire pit.  Mark the circle by looping a string over the stake.  Dig out at least 12 inches over soil and fill it in with 4 inches of gravel and another 4 more of sand.  Make sure you flatten the layer.  Lay down the base course of blocks.  Make it sure that the layer is leveled well.  Fill the space outside with gravel.

Step 2: Lay the additional courses of stone.  You may place your steel ring at the middle of the pit to make sure that the courses have uniform roundness and diameter.

Step 3: Pile up additional layers with the stones positioned perpendicular from the layer under it, or in a staggering manner in order to maintain a strong foundation.  Leave at least three or four gaps between the stones in each layer to allow air to flow into the fire pits.

Step 4: Fill it in with gravel once you have stacked a couple of layers of stone.  Once you have finished the stacking and piling, spread the gravel evenly.

Step 5: Put the steel ring in place before putting the final layer of stone.  Once the steel ring is in place, you may add the final layer of stone.

The Fire Pit for You

If you’re thinking of getting yourself an outdoor fire pit, you might consider buying a gas fire pit instead of the traditional wood burning fire pit.  Gas fire pits are either fueled by propane gas or natural gas that is directly connected to a gas line in your home.  Gas burns clean and it’s smokeless, so say bye-bye to teary eyes and nasty smell the smoke leaves on your hair and clothes!

Another good thing about gas fire pits is that you can choose designs that are portable and lightweight that you can take with you wherever you plan to go on camping and road trips.  With their built-in igniters, starting a fire does not eat much of your time.  Plus, you don’t have to worry of the wind blowing away and killing the fire.  The fire burns continually as long as gas does not run out.  This saves you from the hassle of gathering or purchasing wood for burning; and without wood, you don’t have to worry about cleaning up ashes and soot afterwards.

The portability of propane gas fire pits allows you to place them either on the backyard, front porch, or patio --- as long as it still follows the safety fire regulations.  Natural gas fire pits are generally importable; however, their connection to the home gas line ensures nonstop supply of gas.  So you basically have no worries on running out of fuel! It is highly dependable during gatherings where there will be much cooking and grilling going on.

Gas fire pits are a better choice to most.  Wood fire pits, however, are not that bad of a choice.  Some people still prefer the aesthetic feeling of nature it gives with the crackling of the burning chunks of wood, the dancing glowing flames, the flying little embers, the cozy warmth of the fire, and the familiar nostalgic scent of the smoke.  To those people, this is a better way to relax the night away.

Basically, each type of fire pit offers different pros and cons but choosing the perfect fire pit for you boils down to your preferences, usage, and your budget. So whether you choose a gas fire pit or a wood-burning one, it is important to single out the top considerations in doing so.

Enjoying Outdoor Activities --- at Home, with Gas Fire Pits

Outdoor activities are an expression of our freedom --- and creativity.  But quite sadly, work heaping up each day at the office often leaves us too busy or too drained to have enough energy to make plans to go on camping or simple road trips.  Many of us are limited to just craving for these activities, and never have the slightest chance to break free from the mundane work schedules.  And to add to that, environmental laws and ordinances prohibit some practices especially ones that involve fire.

Fortunately for us, someone created the idea of taking the outdoor adventure, we all endlessly crave, into the convenience of our own homes --- the gas fire pits!  They are environmentally-friendly because of its clean burning, and it emits no nasty smoke.  Flames are self-contained, so it is basically very safe to use, even when there are children around.  Its convenience provides not just warmth but the pleasures of cooking and roasting mallows and hotdogs, just as we do with bonfires.

There are two types of gas fire pits.  Ones that run on tanked propane gas or ones that are directly wired to home gas lines.  Depending on the design, style, and size, gas fire pits may seem expensive but you don’t get to enjoy its benefits once.  It’s perfect for barbecue parties with family and friends during winter, and great to use as an ‘outdoor fireplace’ during the colder nights, where you and your loved ones can gather around eating, drinking, and talking endlessly, without the fear of freezing in the cold.  It also serves as a great and safer alternative to camping in the woods or in camp sites.  You get to enjoy nature at the confines of your own backyard.

The internet is the best place to search when you are thinking about getting yourself or somebody else a gas fire pit.  It doesn’t consume much of your time to look for the designs you think complements your backyard, or compare prices from different makers and suppliers.  You may even get ideas on how to build one for your self if you are more of a DIY-person.  Start your search for the best gas fire pit for you now and experience the outdoors in a different realm.

The Pros and Cons of Cooking on Wood-burning Fire Pits

One ironically weird reason why people repel from the idea of cooking over wood burning and real fire is the very reason many dislike cooking on gas fire pits.  The presence and the lack of the aroma and taste real fire gives on food is one important thing to consider when buying a fire pit, especially when you want to use it on preparing food.

In this article, we tackle on the pros and cons of preparing food over wood-burning fire pits.

The Good

Flavorful - This is one reason nothing beats wood burning fire pits.  The wood and the smoke it creates when burned add a distinct aroma and makes the food more flavorful and delightful.  The choice for what firewood to use also matters.  To augment more flavors, it is advised to use smoking woods like mesquite, hickory, apple, alder, and cherry.

Unparalleled heat - You can still get the same intense heat the chunks of burning embers give off from other fuels and burners.  But what makes it unrivaled is the flavor the wood gives off due to the heat.

Delightfully natural - This arouses the interest of many, especially those who are health conscious.  The heat and burning process is one hundred per cent natural and uses no artificial chemicals unlike gas grills and artificially processed charcoals.

The Bad

The flavor - The topmost reason to love wood-burning cooking is the very reason others don’t like it. It is undeniable that other people don’t like the taste of food that has a smell of burned wood. In this case, gas grilling or cooking is more ideal.

Extra expenses- Good quality and seasoned firewood may become expensive, especially during the winter season.  But the cost may vary depending on the area where you live.  If you’re from the country, these firewood may come in at a cheaper cost.  Wood embers don’t stay hot for long, unlike charcoal.  When grilling, there’s a chance to use up more firewood, which eat up more of your money.

More time - Using firewood may take up more time.  You don’t cook on the open flames so as not to burn and char the food.  It is ideal to cook over glowing embers.  Getting the ideal core of hot embers may consume a huge chunk of time and requires a lot of patience.

Fire control - Using wood-burning fire pit to cook food is more difficult especially if you find it necessary to control the intensity of fire. Doing so is more convenient if you are using a gas fire pit.
Now that you know the pros and cons of cooking on wood as well as using a gas fire pit, the choice to use wood still boils down to your preference on how you would want your food to smell and taste as well as how you value your convenience.  At the end of the day, you should always go for what pleases you the best.

Getting to Know the Many Benefits of Gas Fire Pits

Natural gas fire pits have several and numerous uses.  They can be used as an outdoor decoration as they add personality to the area it is located (such as the backyard or patio).  With it, you can enjoy cooking, grilling, and simple heating with the pleasures of the outdoors.  They can also be enjoyed with friends or family on different occasions.

They come in different styles, designs, shapes, and sizes; and built from different materials such as copper, cast iron, aluminum, stones, or bricks. You also have the choice to either get on that is fueled by propane gas or go for the constant supply of gas by having it directly connected to your natural gas line at home.  The choices seem indefinite.

There are a lot of reasons why natural gas is a better choice than the wood burning type of fire pit.

1.    If you are simply looking for a ‘source’ of warmth when you want to relax outside on a cool night, a gas fire pit can provide it for you.  You can enjoy the same or lesser warmth on summer nights or on any night during the four seasons.  Starting fire is as easy as putting it off.  With a switch, a button, or a knob, you can start the fire burning.

2.    As long as there’s supply of gas, you won’t have to be bothered on keeping the flame on.  There’s no more need of stoking and poking of wood.  You have your time all to yourself to relax and do whatever you want with it.

3.    Cleaning up is never a question with gas fire pits. When you think it’s time to wrap things up and head for bed, you can simply turn the fire off with a knob, switch or a button, without having to worry of cleaning up embers and soot the next day.

4.    Gas fire pits are generally eco-friendly as the burning does not produce pollutants in the air.  It also offers safety to its users since there are no embers that shoot at anywhere that can cause injuries or other dangers.

Gas fire pits have grown vastly in popularity in the recent years for the inconvenience and safety features they present.  But before actually purchasing or building your own fire pit, verify with the local authorities the safety codes and regulations regarding the use of fire.

To have more choices on the designs and styles of gas fire pits available in the market, check out the internet for references.  Consider every detail of your preference to guarantee that you get the fire pit that best suits you and your needs.

Fire Pit Facts: 3 Types of Fire Pits According to its Raw Materials

Fire pits have numerous types and models to choose from, and deciding which one you want best may be a little difficult at some point.  Each of these hundreds of different models has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.  To help you out in your ‘critical’ decision making, here are a few tips on the different types of fire pits according to materials they are made of.

1.    Terracotta fire pits - These are made from clay.  They are typically waterproof and designed to withstand extremely high heat without losing structural integrity.  You don’t mostly see terracotta fire pits in the market, and if there are, they are usually modifications of a chimney design.  The chimneys make a good patio fire pit too but are not ideal for camping due to its heavy weight.

2.    Metal Fire Pits - These are usually made out of copper, steel or cast iron.  Typically, they are shaped into bowls or platters, or in cauldron shapes.  They are excellent for warming, cooking, and grilling.  They may be used in wood burning, or installed with propane gas tanks.  Aside from the durability, they are ideal to take on camping because of their portable feature.  They also make a great centerpiece for the patio.

 Copper fire pits are increasing in popularity these days because of their durability and longevity.  Copper has strong resistance to corrosion due to extreme heat and weather.  They also look more elegant, adding class to the patio and backyard.  The disadvantages copper fire pits have are:

•     The price.  They cost apparently higher than other metal fire pits, but for many consumers, they are worth the price.

•    Copper is heavy and moving and carrying it around may be cumbersome.

3.    Natural Fire Pits - Flames are contained in a pit and not on an open and exposed ground, reducing the risk of flame scattering.  They are usually built or used on activities like camping, hiking, and mountaineering.  The pit is constructed by digging a deep hole into the ground, creating a pot shape.  Dry rocks are arranged alongside the pit.  Grills or cooking tripods may be placed over the pit to prepared food.

These fire pits are just some of the options you can choose from according to their make up. Choose the one that fits your preference and enjoy the comfort that fire pits can give.