It’s Time to Think About a Fire Pit
During this transition between the hot summer months and the cooler fall, it is a perfect time to think about adding a fire pit to your backyard paradise. Sitting outside with a drink and the smell of burning wood wafting into your nostrils is a great scene and an even better event space for entertaining others. As people add more and more accessories to their backyards, installing an attractive, crackling fire pit is just what the doctor ordered.
What to consider when adding a fire pit:
Like any new fixture in your home, it is important to consider all the choices before settling on the final product. What do you want out of your fire pit? Having simply a nice ambiance can result in a different product than one created for serious heat. Your budget can be another big factor. Starting at around $100, the choice to install it yourself, or have one that simply sits on the ground, will quickly filter out many of the competitors. If your budget is more in the range of several thousand dollars to more than $10,000, there are many more options to choose from, especially if you want a custom fire pit that matches the décor of your house and outside entertaining space. Deciding if you want your fire pit to be in your yard permanently or temporarily can also alter your options. If you can see the fire pit being a permanent fixture as the season changes, having one custom built with the proper materials and stones is essential. Having a choice in the metal, either copper, stainless steel, or cast iron, that forms the bowl of your fire pit can add or detract from the ambiance you are trying to achieve.
What to be careful of:
Within your own backyard, it is easy to lose sight of the dangers that are associated with fire, especially when left unattended. Keep your fire pit centrally located, in full view of yourself and your guests. Clearing away any brush or tree limbs that are anywhere near the pit will limit the chances for something to catch on fire. Before lighting the fire, make sure the wood you’re using doesn’t throw sparks excessively (common among pine or cedar wood), and take note of the wind patterns. Using soft wood or lighting a fire when it is excessively windy is a safety hazard for both you and your guests. Besides designing the right ambiance, ensuring that your fire pit follows all the local laws and community rules is absolutely necessary. Many have regulations limiting how close your fire pit can be from other homes, and some may even require a permit or site inspection to make sure there is no chance of your fire pit catching something like a fence or tree branch on fire.
There is no time like the present to consider adding a fire pit to your outdoor setting! Give us a call at 631-998-0780 with questions about your fire pit options.