Add a hint of sophistication to your garden with the CobraCo Round Fire Bowl with Screen and Cover. This cast iron bowl has a copper finish, for an elegant look. Four black metal legs feature embossed scrolls for added detailing, and they curve gently outward for a delicate feel. The sturdy black base and mesh screen complete the piece. The 29.9″ diameter bowl is perfect for large or small gatherings, and the copper colored finish is perfect for any surrounding. Use the included vi (more…)

Warm up this fall with a Landmann Heatwave Outdoor Fireplace. This is a nice looking and durable weather-resistant fireplace for your deck, patio, or backyard. It has an enamel finish that protects the lid and the base of the fireplace. Because of it’s durability you will be able to use it for years to come.

This outdoor fireplace has a galvanized spark guard and is topped with an easy-access conical lid that lifts up and out of the way for cleaning or adding wood. A comfortable wooden handle makes it easy to lift the fireplace off the tripod support and onto its two wheels for easy moving.

One of the great things about this outdoor fireplace is that you can enjoy the fire from any angle AND enjoy it safely. The metal will help keep the fire contained which is great especially if you have children nearby.

Here are the product features:

It is easy to assemble and light weight as well. This would be the ideal fire pit  to take on a camping trip. The price is typically around $80 USD (a pretty good deal for a durable outdoor fire pit). Landmann also has fire pits that are 28-inches in diameter. The larger ones typically sell for $100-120 USD.

Create an intimate outdoor living space with this lovely fireplace. Antique bronze finish with filigree steel stand is a beautiful centerpiece for your outdoor gatherings with family and friends. Set includes removable spark screen to contain flying embers, screen lifting tool, log grate for proper wood-burning airflow, and a protective outdoor storage cover.

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Add a warm, welcoming fire to your patio or garden with the CobraCo Round Cast Iron Brick Finish Fire Bowl with Screen and Cover. This fire bowl features a brick textured bowl atop four elegant scrolled metal legs.

An included screen cover keeps embers and ash from spreading to flammable surfaces, while leaving the heat of the flames free to circulate. The heavy steel construction of both the bowl and the frame are finished for superior rust resistance and durability, and will make (more…)

But if you want something built-in to your landscape, a focal point for your outdoor living room, something to surround with patio furniture or adirondack chairs, then you need to do a little more planning.

Building A Fire Pit Step By Step

The first thing you need to do is select the proper location.  Once you have the ideal location in mind, stop and check with the local zoning regulators to ensure there are no codes that would prevent you from moving forward in that location. 

They may hit you up for a fee of some sort, so be prepared.  But its good to check because there may be a restriction on how close you can place a fire pit to your home or out-building, so better to check in with them than to have them tell you to remove it once it’s installed.

Designing Firepits

Most firepits are round, however, that doesn’t mean you need to stick to the norm.  Think outside of the box a little, what works best for your patio, what can you set that beautiful new teak patio furniture around? 

Think about width across and height.  Will you be in low chairs such as adirondack chairs or deep seating patio furniture chairs? Height could be a factor.  Width across the firepit is important as well. 

When calculating, consider the materials you are going to use to encase your outdoor firepit also, as the dimensions of those materials will need to be factored into your overall site plan as well.

Outdoor Firepits and Materials

Clay bricks, concrete pavers, and rocks all make great choices for the wall of the firepit.  Once you decide on the material, you will need to dig out the appropriate area, including footprint needed for the material.  Go an extra 6-8 inches to allow for room to add an aggregate to be used as a foundation.  Best aggregates to use are those that can be compacted to create a firm and stable base to set the firepit walls on. 

Building the firepit walls is the easy part.  Concrete pavers are generally pretty uniform in shape and will stack on top of each other pretty well.  Some manufacturers even make curved pavers that will make creating a round firepit a breeze. 

Clay bricks will stack pretty well also and the look will have a little more character.  Stacking stones takes more patience, as you will need to be careful to keep the layers level as you move upward. 

General height guidelines are roughly 12-16” high, but that will vary depending of the overall design you’ve come up with in your planning stage.

Drop-In Copper Firepit bowls

One way to create the inside of the firepit is to purchase a hand-hammered copper firepit, bowl and set it into the pit.  There are a lot of great resources online to find firepits and most of those sites will be able to sell you a drop in bowl for your homemade firepit.

If you do decide to have a drop in bowl, make sure you get the dimensions of the unit you will drop in prior to building your walls, so that the outer ring or lip of the drop in bowl can sit on the ledge of the wall.  Best case is also to have the bottom of the bowl rest on the ground as well, but it is not always necessary.  Check with the manufacturer just to be sure.

Other ideas for the bottom of the pit are sand, gravel, pavers, bricks or just the dirt itself.  Whatever you choose, make sure you figure the depth of the product into the overall design.  Good Luck.

Do you have a physically large space or a small one? Are you considering a Fire Pit for ambiance, warmth, or for a multi-purpose solution – like a fire and a grill or a fire table? Do you want a personal Fire Pit for indoor use? Do you like metal, ceramic, stone, or glass? Do you want a portable unit? What type of fuel do you want to use?

Evaluate the location itself and determine what size (diameter) best fits your location, fuel type, requirements, and seasonal usage. Other considerations include:

How large of an area can your Fire Pit occupy?

Evaluate the dimensions of the Fire Pit and your physical space. The primary measurement is the width – so look at your space and see if the width of the unit will accommodate your selected location.

If you have trouble visualizing space, get a piece of newspaper, measure a circle or square based on the diameter of the unit you are considering, cut it out and place the newspaper in your location.

Once you’ve figured out the width, then evaluate the height. Fire Pits have a wide array of heights – ranging form short portable units to Pagodas.
Look at your space and determine if the height is appropriate.

Additionally, don’t forget to look at the base – FirePits have a variety of base designs and you should make sure you like the base too.

Styles and sizes:

Table Top Fire Pit: The fire pit resides in the center and a table encircles the firepit. This style encourages everyone to gather around the fire, possibly cook dinner (based on the model) and enjoy the ambiance. The tables often have a tiled mosaic pattern, and the Fire Pit can be fueled by gas, gel or wood.

Pagoda Style Fire Pits are generally taller and more elaborately designed. Many double as a grill.

Chimenea’s are an increasingly popular portable outdoor fireplace. They were traditionally constructed from terra-cotta but can now be found in assorted finishes including steel, iron and copper. Chimenea’s were typically used to burn wood but an ever increasing number are equipped with gas.

Do you have a material preference?

FirePits come in a wide variety of materials – look at your outdoor space and determine which style suits your location. Evaluate your flooring and make sure it will be safe for your FirePit. If not, you may need to purchase a Fire Mat and … we always suggest keeping a hose on hand. Fire Pits are made in many materials including copper, iron, steel, aluminum – natural stone, manufactured stone, and ceramic.

Does it need to provide heating?

If your Fire Pit needs to provide heating then Gels many not be the best choice. Gels will often crackle and pop, but the heat they provide is not as significant as wood or gas.

Do you need to be able to move the Fire Pit?

Some Fire Pits are portable while others are a little more cumbersome. If you are looking for a portable Fire Pit to take camping or tailgating, a portable fire pit may be perfect. Additionally, if you like to be able to rearrange your outdoor space regularly a FirePit weighing a few hundred pounds may be a little cumbersome.

Do you need to have LP Gas, Natural Gas, Gel, or Wood?

In regards to Gas, LP or Natural Gas are both options. Gel will snap, crackle and pop, but you need to purchase the Gels separately. Gels come in a canister, and we suggest carefully stirring each container (unless the box states otherwise) to ensure the mixture is evenly dispersed.

NOTE: Some Gels may not fit other Gel units. With wood, well, wood is pretty easy as long as it is easy to procure. With any FirePit we suggest using a screen for safety.

Would you like to be able to cook on your Fire Pit?

If you would like to have your Fire Pit double as a grill , there are a number of available models for you to select from. Some look like a grill, and others are quite stylistic in shape.

Price

Prices can range from $60.00 to over $3,000.00 for more of a Customized Fire Pit. For the upper end Fire Pit, they are usually made to order – so be sure to understand there is a waiting period of usually at least 40 days from the day the order is placed until delivery.

Safety and Other Concerns

* Place your unit on stable ground.
* Keep a hose or fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency.
* Be aware of your local fire ordinances – some local governments will not allow a Fire Pit in certain locations.

Others have specific installation requirements and it is your responsibility to ensure your unit meets these specifications.

* Use your screen to contain sparks.
* Look at your flooring – if you have wood – or wood nearby – be careful.

Consider purchasing a fire mat and spark screen. Chimeneas must be “cured” before use to insure longevity and safe burning.

* Children – don’t forget, the fire pits are hot.
* This list is by no means complete, and we are not responsible for any accidents.

I hope this was helpful. Please let me know what else we can add to make this even more useful. Thanks!

I bet it will bring back some wonderful memories of time spent around a campfire when you were a child. If you don’t have any memories of time spent at a cottage or a summer camp, then you can use your outdoor firepit to make some new ones of your own.

The wonderful thing about installing a patio fire bowl is that you have many choices as far as styles go. You may decide that a fire pit that looks like a basin will fit in with your overall decorating scheme. Maybe a ball of fire is more to your liking, or a unit that is enhanced with a personalized image is just your cup of tea!

You may feel more comfortable with a fire pit that looks like a fireplace or a wood stove. You can even find custom made models personalized with your name, palm trees, or almost any other shape your mind can imagine.

Patio Fire Bowl Accessories

Any time that you are around an open fire, flying sparks may be a concern. Add a fire pit spark screen to your fire pit to enjoy the experience of the fire without having to worry about getting a nasty (and very hot) surprise if a spark decides to jump out at you.

Instead of placing the fire pit directly onto your patio or deck, you may want to place it on a fire pit stand. Choose the height that fits in with your decor and your personal preference. When the patio fire pit is not in use, cover it up by placing a fire pit cover over top of it.

If you enjoy the idea of having your own “camp” fire on your patio, you may want to pick up a grill for your fire pit. This accessory will allow you to grill hot dogs and other items right in your back yard. Use a log grabber to pick up and place more wood in your fire pit without having to get too close. Safety needs to come first.

Patio heaters also have a place in your plan for enjoying outdoor living. When the weather starts getting cooler, you don’t need to head back into the house. Instead, install an electric or propane heater. Some models look very much like an electric lamp, which adds to the overall idea of your patio being another room in your house.

If you are interested in a patio heater that will heat up an area quickly without taking up a lot of space, do consider a table top unit. Once you have your fire pit accessories in place, you can concentrate on enjoying your outdoor living space until winter sets in.

While fire pits are a great adjunct to a home, there are a few safety concerns, and this article will cover many of them. Please don’t forget, fire can be dangerous, so always be cautious. There are a myriad of safety issues, and this article cannot cover every circumstance. This article addresses many safety concerns so you, your family, and friends can safely enjoy your fire pit.

Before you purchase your fire pit, research your county and city codes regarding fire pits. Be sure you understand your local regulations – fines can be hefty and they are so easy to avoid.

Once you know the rules and regulations in your location for your fire pit, make the purchase!! Before you use your fire pit for the first time, read the owners manual. It will instruct you on how to setup the fire pit properly and will address many safety concerns. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer. Don’t guess.

Fire Pit Safety Concerns:

1. Never leave a fire unattended for any amount of time. Always leave an adult by the fire to make sure it is safe, and be attentive while the fire is active. Ensure there are no stray sparks and that the fire is safe. Keep a fire mat around the fire pit, and keep a fire extinguisher or hose nearby in case of an emergency. Don’t forget, a single spark can turn into a fire. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

2. Keep the deck clear of clutter. Fire pits will spark, and a spark can easily hide. If you keep the area around the fire pit free of clutter, you will be better able to see any stray sparks.

3. Maintain a good distance from the bottom of the fire pit to the floor of the deck. This will help minimize missing a stray ember.

4. Purchase a fire extinguisher and fire mat. Keep the fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency. Don’t forget – fire extinguishers will expire, and you need to make sure that yours is in top working condition.

5. Do not get too close to the fire. Clothing can catch on fire – especially polyester materials. Keep children away from the fire and be cognizant of their proximity to your fire pit.

6. Do not place your fire pit under a roof. It is for outdoor use, and will be unsafe if used under a roof or inside a closed location.

7. Once you are finished with the fire pit, make sure the fire is completely out. A single ember can relight and this can be a very dangerous scenario.

Fire pits are wonderful and will offer years of enjoyment. Just be aware, safe, and enjoy.

This is a stylish black fire bowl that can be used in the backyard this fall. Just light a cozy fire and sit under the stars!

For burning wood, charcoal and artificial logs. 30″wide x 37″high x 23″ deep

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