Your Pool, A Fire Pit, And Summer
A Great Combination
Backyard living has become more popular, with people across the country adding outdoor kitchens, conversation pits, and even fire pits, to their backyards. People are outfitting their backyards with dining spaces, outdoor TVs, terraces and more.
Those who have fibreglass pools installed in their backyards might want to add more elements of interest to their backyard. A fire pit can help you add warmth to your backyard. During the summer months, you can spend comfortable evenings with your loved ones, by the fire pit. Your fire pit can be useful during the winter as well, allowing you to use your backyard throughout the year.
If you're looking for a way to increase the amount of time you spend in your backyard, then adding a fire pit could be a good idea. The kind of fire pit you get will depend on how much space you have, what your budget is, as well as what the local restrictions are. Here are some tips when it comes to getting a fire pit installed in your backyard.
1. Making A Budget
The first thing you’ll need to do is plan out how much you’re willing to invest in your fire pit. You could choose a fire pit that is prefabricated, or you could also have an in-ground fire pit built from scratch. It can be easier to get the models that are prefabricated and then install them. However, these aren’t usually built to endure. Often, they come with a bottom made of metal. This can rust and start to deteriorate pretty quickly.
Instead, you could get a fire pit built for you, with a foundation using concrete. Brick and mortar are then used to construct the fire pit. These kinds of fire pits come with weep holes that are on the walls. This is meant to help the moisture to drain out. With this kind of fire pit, you could experience some issues as well. You’ll need to deal with the ground settlement, moisture, as well as other issues. While these fire pits are more expensive, they can also last for many more years.
Check out these top swimming pool accessories that every pool owner must have!
2. Choosing The Location
Where you place your fire pit could be affected by government policies. The building, as well as council codes, tend to vary from region to region. There are three factors that you should pay attention to when choosing the location of your fire pit.
How far your fire pit is from nearby homes, vegetation, and even businesses .
What kind of fuel you'll need, and how you can use it to light the fire pit.
Whether the smoke that comes out from your fire pit will disturb your neighbours or not.
You should get in touch with a contractor who is knowledgeable and also follows the construction codes of your region. You may need to get council permission before you can have your fire pit built.
3. What Kind Of Fire Pit
There are four kinds of fire pits that you can have built. They include:
- Above Ground Pit: This is a common kind of fire pit where there is a wall or a barrier on either all or most of the sides around the fire. These are usually built to be a foot high. But some can also be 20 inches or more on at least one side. This kind of fire pit will be below your seating area. You can also create an edge around the fire pit for people to sit in.
- In-Ground Pit: There are homeowners who dig holes into the ground of their backyard, to create an in-ground fire pit by themselves. With an in-ground pit, you can either place the firewood on ground level or sink it into the ground.
- Custom Pit: These are often built by hand. A custom pit is usually constructed from scratch using materials like brick and concrete. These cannot be moved, but can be constructed both below as well as above ground.
- Fire Bowl: This kind of fire pit is smaller than the others. You can add a fire bowl to your patio as well. You can also get fire bowls that are designed to be larger. Usually, a fire bowl is made using concrete, steel, or even cast iron. If you want to add a small fire pit to your backyard, then consider adding a fire bowl.
4. What Material Will Be Used
If you want your fire pit to look a certain way, then you need to ensure that you’re using the right materials to have it built. These are common materials that are used to make fire pits:
Stone: You can get stones in varying designs. They range from angular to round, and more. You can choose the stone that best complements’ your backyard.
Fire Brick: Another popular material used to make fire pits is bricks. This is because bricks are fire-resistant. Bricks can be used to build both in-ground as well as above-ground fire pits. Bricks are inexpensive as well, making them a popular choice for homeowners.
Concrete: Another material that’s used in fire pits commonly, are concrete pavers, or poured concrete. Materials like stone and bricks are often blended together with concrete. Since concrete blocks are inexpensive, this is a cost-effective material to work with as well.
5. Following Safety Advice
When you’re dealing with fire, safety is important. Ensure that you:
⦁ Check the direction of the wind before lighting a fire.
⦁ Never use fluids that are combustible like gasoline and lighter fluid, to start or even relight your fire pit.
⦁ Don’t wear clothing that is flammable such as nylon, near the fire pit.
⦁ Don’t use soft woods or cedar when lighting your fire line pipe as they can end up generating sparks.
Always keep children and pets at least three feet away from your fire pit.
Conclusion
When you have a fire pit at home, you have a ready-made place where you, your family, and your friends can sit down and relax. Fire pits can be used both in the summer as well as the winter. However, people end up using them more during the summer season.
People who feel chilly after getting out of the fibreglass pool in the evening can warm themselves up by the fire pit.
