Adding a Firepit to Your Home
When it comes to our homes, we’re always looking to make improvements whether it’s to change the look, make it more inviting, or even more practical. Today, we want to discuss adding a firepit to your landscape as we believe it adds all three of the above for both you and all your guests.
With a firepit, you’ll have a source of light, heat, and an overall ambience to your backyard. When friends are over, you can relax and even cook food so everyone has happy bellies and nostrils from the smell. Naturally, your guests will be drawn to the firepit and it brings a real communal atmosphere where stories are shared. Suddenly, the firepit can be the focal point of the backyard whilst also providing a nice scene from the inside too.
Ultimate Tips
After speaking with several landscaping experts, the next section will explain the following;
- How to choose the best location for your firepit whilst considering available space, safety, and convenience
- What makes a ‘good’ firepit and whether you need a portable or built-in design
- Choosing the right size to add to your backyard rather than it looking out of place
- Differentiating between an outdoor fireplace and a firepit
- How to consider your guests, traffic, outdoor seating, and every other factor that comes with introducing a firepit
- Assessing the right fuel options for you including wood, ethanol, gas, and propane
- What justifies the various costs within the market and how to accommodate your budget
- Choosing a model that adds practical use to your backyard as well as looking aesthetically-pleasing
- How to keep running costs low
- Choosing the right materials for your needs (safety and practicality)
- When to contact a landscape designer and how they can help
Size
If you choose a firepit too small for the designated area, it won’t throw out enough heat and you will all be huddled around like penguins. If too large, this presents a danger as well as making conversations difficult so you need to set aside a location for the firepit and find a model that meets your needs rather than working the other way around.
With the width of the unit, they can be found anywhere between three and six feet. At this point, we should note that width measurements listed by manufacturers will include the walls so the burning area will be somewhat smaller. For height, this is especially important if you’ve chosen an above-ground firepit. If it stands too tall, there is a tripping risk and you can’t rest your feet on the edge. If too small, people will have to bend right over to reach the heat.
Although not always accurate, there is a general rule suggesting 12-14 inches on an above-ground firepit. With this being a little shorter than standard furniture, it sits at a nice height for all guests. If you want to push this to 18-20 inches, your guests can sit on the edge with comfort. Since it would hold the heat in, we advise against going above twenty inches.
Summary
If you’re currently researching firepits and would like one in your backyard, we highly recommend the services of a landscape designer as they will have the experience to offer you smart recommendations. Having worked on numerous backyards before yours, they can suggest placement, design, fuel type, etc.