You’ll be hard-pressed trying to find an Aussie that doesn’t enjoy the experience of getting together in the backyard, gathering around a great fire pit, and enjoying one another’s company long into the night. If chosen correctly, your outdoor fire pit will encourage conversation, compliment your home’s alfresco style and design, and contribute to the ambiance of your outdoor area.
Here are the most important factors to consider before buying an outdoor fire pit for your home.
Size
The larger the space the more options you have available. For example, if you have a big backyard then choosing a built-in brick fire pit is an option. If you have a small courtyard then you will most likely need to stick to portable fire pits, freestanding fire pits, and fire bowls.
If you are buying an outdoor fire pit for your verandah, again you might want to consider something smaller like a tabletop fire pit. Tabletop fire pits obviously double up as extra shelf space if you are not intending to light a fire.
Design
A well-chosen fire pit will contribute to the outdoor area’s atmosphere and style. If you are choosing a fire pit for a smaller space then the fire pit may be the hero or focal point of your outdoor area. Therefore, you will want to make more of a statement with the fire pit where your outdoor setting and plants for the garden can be chosen accordingly.
If you have a bold garden to begin with or have an outdoor setting that you want to be the hero of the alfresco area, then you should choose the style of fire pit to match.
Colour
Fire pits can come in a variety of colours, usually determined by the material they are made from. If you are wanting a vintage look then the copper or rustic iron fire pits will be a good choice. If your alfresco area is more modern then black fire pits such as cast iron will be a good tone to blend well with the rest of the modern alfresco.
Texture
Having a smooth or rough surface fire pit is the main thing to consider when it comes to texture. Whether they are built-in or free-standing, brick fire pits are a great way to contrast against a timber deck or other smooth surfaces in your outdoor area.
If you already have rough surfaces around the outdoor space like a stone retaining wall or stone path, then choosing a smooth surface fire pit is likely to contrast well (e.g. cast iron smooth finish fire pit on top of pebbles).
IMPORTANT: Be sure you don’t want to overdo it with the textures (e.g. too much stone!) or it will blend in too much. That said, it can work well. There are always exceptions.
Fuel Choice
Timber is the front runner when it comes to fuel choice. Let’s be honest, the sound and smell of a crackling wood fire is half the reason we buy a fire pit in the first place. There are other fuel options that offer greener/cleaner burning like ethanol / bioethanol products, gels (with a base of isopropyl alcohol or methanol) and faux logs.
Timber alternatives are a good fuel source if there is a risk of embers catching fire to flammable plant life or built structures. Bioethanol is the most environmentally friendly fire pit fuel choice, followed by natural gas. A great alternative to wood is biofuel logs. Any dry hardwoods burn more cleanly and efficiently than softwoods. Softwoods, will burn quickly and will have more smoke to manage.
Safety
Don’t be too hasty. Research your local council regulations about fire pits and open fires. If you live in an apartment and the building has a body corporate, you'll need to check the regulations to make sure they allow fire pits. When you install the fire pit, it should be positioned on gravel or a paved area, with plenty of room for movement around the pit when it's lit. Avoid tight, secluded or high-traffic areas. Lastly, you must not use a fire pit on a flammable, combustible surface.
