Many back yards are enhanced by modern day firepits. Fire pits are very reminiscent of the camping life and can bring back memories of bon fires during the teen age years that were set to commemorate a favorite sport or summer bon fires when everyone got together to meet and have fun. Even in the old west people sat around a camp fire to sing and tell stories. Today you can still do these things with a modern fire pit and even spear some marshmallows on a stick and roast them in the fire. You can purchase pits to match any decor or landscape and it will allow you to stay outside longer after the summer wanes. It is even possible to build your own pit.
Patio shops, hardware stores, and discount department stores all have fire pits for sale that are very portable. You can find them in iron, steel, clay and many other materials. It is possible to create your own pit that is permanently in your back yard of affixed to the patio. The only thing you have to do is decide if you want to use a wood burning pit or opt for a gas pit.
Fire pits illumine the area at night so that electricity does not have to be used. They provide heat on a cold dark night. It is also possible to cook on a fire pit using it like a barbecue. When using a wood burning fire pit the wood will impart a flavor to the food cooked. Some portable fire pits come with a grate that goes over the top so you can cook on it. If you build your own make sure to include a grill that fits over the pit so you can cook.
There are many portable wood burning fire pits on the market today as well. They sometimes have a wrought iron leg base with a round copper dish attached. The wood is placed in the copper dish and then there is sometimes a black wire mesh screen that goes over top to keep the flames in the dish. These portable fire pits are generally inexpensive at anywhere from $40 to $150. Portable wood burning fire pits come in many different shapes from square to round to rectangular.
The other type of fire pit is one that uses gas for fuel. This type of fire pit is much cleaner because you do not have to clean ash out of it after several uses. Instead of finding wood you only have to turn it on to get a flame. There is no smoke involved in a gas fire pit so you do not have to be bothered with smoke getting in anyone’s eye while you sit around it. Again, gas fueled fire pits are made in many different sizes and shapes. Their prices run a bit more from $150 up to $300 or more, but they have an apparatus to deliver gas to the pit that is a little more expensive to make.
Building a fire pit is not that hard to do and it can be done on a tight budget. A location in the yard needs to be away from buildings or low growing trees that may be able to catch on fire if a spark came in contact with it. It is advisable to check to make sure the place that is being dug is no where near any underground gas pipes or other utilities. Make the outline of a circle on the ground for the size of pit desired. If there is grass remove it first and then dig down about a foot or so keeping the sides of the hole straight. The perfect circumference of a hole is about 8 inches for 1 foot deep. If a larger pit is planned dig a little deeper.
Now that you have a hole you need to fill it with something to keep the pit dry and drained well. Place 4 inches of gravel in the bottom and try to get it to go up the sides as far as possible. Add 3 to 4 inches of sand up as far as possible. Concrete pavers should be placed around the perimeter of the pit and they should be stacked about 6 to 10 inches above the hole. You can use cement blocks, bricks, and large rocks as well. Never use anything to hold the material together because many adhesives contain chemicals that are toxic when they get hot. All that is left to do is place wood in the hole not to come up over the walls above the ground, and set it ablaze. If the weather is wet it is possible for the pit to flood and it will be necessary to wait to use it until it dries out a bit. These types of pits also need to be cleaned out periodically by digging out all the old ash. Another layer of gravel should be added after cleaning.
Enjoy a rustic hand hewn fire pit, a more civilized portable wood burning fire pit or an elegant gas burning fire pit. Watching the fire will be relaxing and entice much conversation and good will at your next patio or back yard barbecue.
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