The benefits of fire pits are endless. Installing a fire pit is a sure way of keeping yourself warm in those cold evenings. If you need to have a nice, quiet time to reflect, doing that near the fire pit is awesome. It provides extra ambiance, can be a source for cooking quick meals, and is the perfect entertain spot for your family. Overall, a fire pit is an excellent addition to your outdoor space. However, is it really nice to put a fire pit on a patio?
In general, you can put a fire pit on a patio. It is the favorite spot for fire pits, whether wood-burning, gas, or propane. However, the location is vital. Before you think of installing a fire pit on a patio, you need to consider if it’s a covered patio or not. If it’s covered, how high is it? If the ceiling is too close to the fire put, it could cause grave damage to the ceiling over time. For best position, check with your manufacturer’s manual and city codes and regulations.
How Do I protect My Patio From a Fire Pit?
Regardless of how well built your patio is, a fire pit can destroy it. Heat from the pit will weaken the concrete or composite deck over time, causing cracks. Concrete and composite wood decks are the most used materials for constructing a patio. Concrete is more preferred due to its availability, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
When propane or wood-burning fire pits burn, they conduct heat to the concrete, wood, or any other heat-sensitive material under them. While concrete isn’t flammable, it will crack and eventually burn when exposed to extreme heat temperatures. The same goes for wooden decks, grasses, and other surfaces. The fire can damage these surfaces, leaving your patio in a wreck. You can prevent this from happening in several ways, which I will tell you.
You can protect your patio from a fire pit by installing certain materials beneath the pit. If the surface is grass, you can put a patio slab, heat shield, or a fire-resistant mat beneath. Patio slabs are the most efficient because they are flat, and will absorb any heat radiated from the pit, protecting your patio from being scorched. Patio slabs are easy to install. Put them under the fire pit according to its shape, size, and number of legs. Each leg should stand on one patio slab, and make sure that the pit is stable.
Alternatively, you can use heat shields. You can place heat shields on your composite wood, concrete surfaces, and other surfaces as well. Putting heat shields under the fire pit will protect your patio from fire and heat damage. Like slabs, heat shields are straightforward to use because no assembly is required. Simply put one under the fire pit on the surface. The surface must be flat. Light your fire pit, and enjoy.
A fire-resistant mat is the next alternative. Although heat shields are straightforward to use, they can be bulky. So, moving them from place to place can be cumbersome. Instead of dealing with heat shields, you can get a fire-resistant mat. They are easy to set up and can be folded conveniently. Plus, you can stuff it into your bag because it is compact when folded. It also doesn’t get damaged by fire because it is designed for direct fires. Lay it on the surface, and place your fire pit over it. Another benefit of fire mats over heat shields is the size. They are larger than heat shields, so they can extend their protection.
You could also use fire pits with screen protector. It’s a well-known fact that fire pits can ignite a fire when their embers land on flammable materials, such as fabric, dry leaves, or grass. Fire pit screens can prevent these sparks and embers from causing damage to your patio. These screens come in different shapes and designs, such as pivot fire pit screen, square fire pit screen, hinged fire pit screen, etc.
Where Should a Fire Pit be Placed on a Patio?
The location of your fire pit isn’t something that you should gamble with. Due to the danger of fire and its unpredictable nature, it’s essential that get the right spot if you want fire pits to become routine and form a memorable part of your family’s nightlife gathering. Therefore, choosing the right location is an important safety decision to make to minimize the risks of injuries and property damage.
The ideal place a fire pit should be placed is on a level surface, about 20-25 feet away from the closest structure. This is the general acceptable number in most common local fire codes. The intent here is to create a standoff between the fire pit and anything within its proximity. Therefore, 20-25 feet would suffice. The floor should be stone, brick, or concrete because they are non-combustible surface materials. Avoid wood, composite decks, grass or wood flooring when intending to install a fire pit, as they can easily ignite fire when contact is made.
You an enjoy your fire pits on wood, composite decks, or grass if that’s what you want, but you’ll have to be extra careful. Safety should be top priority here, so you should always be on the lookout. Maintain the regular 25-30 feet between the pit and the nearest building, clear the surrounding area from fuel sources that could possibly ignite fire like firewood, and pay attention to dry leaves, debris, or any other thing on the surface that could lead to a potential fire hazard. Remember to confirm with local fire codes and relevant authorities before carrying out any fire pit installation.
You should avoid placing a fire pit in an enclosed space due to the smoke’s toxicity. It can build up too quickly if the area is not ventilated. Always use it in an open-spaced area. Also, remember to check with your city, Homeowners Association, and the manufacturer instructions to know the minimum distance required to install the fire pit. The space should be open, clear, and free from low-hanging trees that can easily ignite fire. If you want the spot to be near a tree, ensure that you trim the branches to create a reasonable distance between it and the pit to reduce risks of fire outbreak.
Now, if you are considering installing a fire pit under a covered gazebo or pergola-made patio, propane gas pits are the best. Propane produce less smoke than other types of pits, such as wood-burning pits. Wood-burning pits generate a considerable amount of heat and embers that could cause damage to your structure. Propane gas pits have lower smoke emissions, but as I have pointed out here, you’ll have to consider the distance between the ground and the ceiling before installing it. If the overhead is too low, a fire hazard could ensue, and this could impact your structures negatively.
What Is a Good Size for a Fire Pit Patio?
The ideal size vary, with different dimensions being suggested. According to local ordinances permit, a fire pit patio should be 36 inches by 44 inches to contain many people. Others suggest using a 25 sq. ft. of space for each person you intend to have in the patio.
The takeaway here is that you should build a comfortable patio space big enough to accommodate at least 10-15 people.
How to Build a Fire Pit on a Patio?
Before deciding to built a fire pit on a patio, you need to consider a few factors, such as the fuel type, material type, and location. As you know, fire pits come with various power modes. You can either use wood, propane, or natural gas.
If you want to experience that cracking and popping sound, you should opt for the wood-burning pit. However, you need to be ready to deal with the excessive flame, embers, and smoke. If you want calm flames, with no smokes and don’t want to deal with the stress of starting a fire manually, go for propane or natural gas fire pits.
Material type is the next factor. Fire pits are constructed with various materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum, and iron. These materials affect the durability of fire pits. Stainless and iron hold up well more than aluminum.
Location is one factor that you can’t leave out. Without incorporating some safety plan into your construction, you might end up with a damaged patio. So, choose whether you want to build your fire pit on the grass, concrete, or wood.
Building a fire pit on a patio is not as straightforward as it seems because everyone has a different method of doing it. This guide comprises simple steps that can help any newbie build a fire pit on a patio. Note that this is for people intending to build a fire pit on concrete or pavers, but only have grasses.
To do this, you need the following tools and materials;
- Pavers
- Rake
- Pavers sand
- Shovel
- Wheelbarrow
- Tape measure
- Broom
- Paver base
- Marking spray paint
- Compressor
- Pneumatic nail gun
- Nails
| Step 1 | Mark the area using a tape measure. Use a spray paint to mark the designated area. |
| Step 2 | Dig out the area using a shovel. |
| Step 3 | Put down enough paver base on the dug-out area. |
| Step 4 | Rake the base around the edges until the base have completely reached all areas. When the base is even, tamp it down with a hand tamper. |
| Step 5 | Add a layer of sand to create a level landscape. Tamp it down to achieve a more even surface. |
| Step 6 | Lay the pavers evenly and gently using your desired style. |
| Step 7 | Fill the cracks and openings with sand. |
| Step 8 | Choose a 35-inch circular fire pit bowl. |
| Step 9 | Lay the blocks around the edges of the bowl until it forms a circle. |
| Step 10 | Start adding the second layer of blocks, and then the third. |
| Step 11 | Insert the bowl into the ring of blocks. |
| Step 12 | Congratulations! You have made your fire pit. |
Related Questions
1. Can you put a fire pit on top of a paver patio?
Yes, you can put a fire pit on top of a paver patio. You can add a fire-resistant mat or a heat shield to protect the paver from direct heat.
2. Can you put a fire pit on a wood patio?
Definitely! However, you have to mount the fire pit on a patio slab, heat shield, or a fire-resistant mat to protect it from heat damage.
Conclusion
Yes, you can put a fire pit on a patio, and even build your own fire pit yourself. It’s pretty easy if you follow all the steps I have enumerated and explained here. Also, remember the guide on setting up your fire pit for the best outdoor experience.