Get Cozy with Firepits

Fire pits are a "hot" backyard accessory. With so many options, we're sure you'll warm up to one.

By Eric Smith, Projects Editor

Fire pits—they've been around since fire.

But they've evolved. Once holes in the ground, they're now decorative backyard accessories—attractive centerpieces that "spark" long evenings of conversation between friends and family gathering 'round their warm glow. If you have a large yard, and the town you live in permits it, the ancient campfire design—a shallow, in-ground hole surrounded by stones—is still the simplest and cheapest fire pit. But you don't have to live in wide, open spaces to enjoy the beauty of an outdoor fire. There are many ways to invite the warming glow of firelight into your backyard.

Mull Over Metal

You've seen them at most home and garden centers—metal fire pits that start at about $50. The basic model is a large steel ring with decorative cutouts for ventilation and flame viewing. The ring contains the fire and is set on the ground or on a bed of sand or stone.

Want a step up? Look at metal bowls on legs. Here, the fire is contained in a 2- to 3-foot bowl or kettle fashioned from copper, steel or aluminum. They range from $100 to $500 and can be set anywhere on the lawn or patio. Metal bowls can get extremely hot, and models with short legs may scorch the grass below. Set on a surface that withstands intense heat (never on a wood deck). And hands off when a fire is burning! Some metal models are available with grills for cooking or with wire mesh screens to keep embers and ash from escaping.

Formal Stone and Masonry

More formal, permanent fire pits can be made from stone or masonry mortared together. They can be as large or small as you want, but the fires that burn inside them should never be more than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. It's a good idea to consult your local building department before constructing a permanent fire pit. To prevent the walls from settling or being damaged by frost heave, local officials may suggest building them on footings or a concrete slab.

You may also want to line the inside of masonry fire pits with a layer of firebrick, or make the pit large enough so that fires burn several feet away from the masonry. Porous materials like brick, concrete block, slate or sandstone can get hot enough for the expanding moisture within the material to cause them to crack...or even explode! Likewise, use granite or other non-porous rock to construct stone fire pits, or make an inner ring of firebrick.

Consider Gas

Gas fire pits, like gas grills, run on propane or natural gas. Most kits use faux logs, lava rocks and even decorative colored glass, though inexpensive models are available that consist of nothing more than metal tubes with holes. These should be avoided, however, as they're not UL-approved.

The main advantage of gas fire pits is that they don't need as much clearance from flammable surfaces and can be used in suburban or urban areas where wood fires are restricted. They also turn on and off instantly—some are even operated via remote control. And because they don't produce embers and ash, cleanup is minimal. Plus, with all the decorative surrounds and accessories available, you can surely find one that complements your outdoor style. There are some disadvantages to gas: they're not suitable for cooking, you need to use quite a bit of gas to get the appearance of a wood fire and they're generally more expensive—from several hundred to several thousand dollars. And, of course, the aroma of burning gas isn't quite the same.

Regardless of the type of fire pit you choose, there's no denying the soothing effect of a crackling fire in the great outdoors. It's not only beautiful, but there's no better way to wind down from a long day than by gazing into a pile of glowing embers, cozy within the warmth of a backyard flame.