If you are looking for ways to make your patio fireplace or deck area more lively and appealing, you should consider adding fire glass to it. This fantastic option adds a sparkling and vibrant look to your outdoor space. Even when the light in your area is off, fire glass still shines bright and leaves the place dazzling.
Apart from fire glasses, there’s another fantastic option called fire bead. Like fire glass, fire beads can also be used to beautify outdoor gas fire pits. Distinguishing between a fire bead and fire glass is one difficult thing to do. That’s because they are similar in many aspects. One may mistake fire beads for fire glass and vice versa. Are there any differences between them? First, let’s find out what fire beads and fire glass is.
What is Fire Glass?
Fire glass, fire pit glass, or fire rocks is a unique type of decorative glass that is added to fire puts to beautify it. It is a type of tempered glass, comprising chunks that are used decoratively on fireplaces. During the manufacturing process, these chunks are sifted to remove any sandy or unwanted sharp pieces of glass that could cause injury. They are now cleaned and packaged and sold to consumers directly or companies.
It comes in various types, shapes, depth, and colors, such as blue, silver, black, diamond, etc., to suit your outdoor living space. Contrary to what some people might think, fire glasses are safe around fire pits because they aren’t like the typical drinking glasses. They are constructed from a specially made heat-resistant, inert glass. It’s not combustible nor contain any additives.
Since fire glass is resistant to heat, it’s safe to use around a fireplace. It doesn’t burn or melt like typical glasses, produce toxic fumes when burnt, explode, collect soot, or even turn to odd colors. Interestingly, you can use a fire glass with almost all types of fire pits, including propane and natural fire pits. Plus, it is simple to add. Just replace the lava rocks in the bed with a fire glass and wait to see how marvellous your patio area will beautifully change.
If you are wondering if you can use fire glass with spark screens, the answer is yes. However, it isn’t necessary since fire glasses don’t pop cinders. You may want to consider adding spark screens if you have children or nosy pets.
One amazing thing about fire glasses is that they don’t require huge maintenance. As long as they are properly cared for, they will last for as long as ten years. If used indoors, it might require cleaning from time to time, but if used outdoors, you might have to clean it more regularly. That’s because while outdoors, leaves and bird droppings can make them unclean.
If you are in an area with lots of trees, you should expect to clean the fire glass frequently unless you change the location. They could also get dirty from improper hydrocarbon mixture. This usually manifests in the form of soot on the glass. However, the soots are easy to clean with vinegar and water.
There are of two major types – Recycled Fire Glass and the Reflective/ Tempered Fire Glass.
Recycled Fire Glass is constructed from windows scraps and glass bottles. They are gotten from companies that recycle waste products. When obtained, the glass is melted and processed again using a unique furnace to remodel the glass. Though the process is the same, the formula for each color is different. After the glass has been colored, they are cooked. After the cooking process is over, the fire glass is now cooled before it’s crushed into small pieces.
These small pieces are then sized for a more even outlook in the fire glass container. Their edges are also smoothed out to remove the sharpness and make handling easier. Apart from putting them in fire pits, you can put them in the garden around plants, put inside a fish tank for adorable looks. This type of fire glass is versatile and can be applied in many different ways.
The second type is the Reflective Fire Glass. This type of glass is made from tempered glass with a mirror finish. The glass is smashed and gives off cool reflections. However, the edges of this glass type is not smooth, so the chances of being cut are high. Therefore, it’s not recommended that you use this type of glass anything other than fire pits.
The Recycled Fire glass comes in two different sizes; ¼ – ½ inch and ½ – 1 inch. The other type comes in only ¼-inch size. These are the ideal sizes for fire pits. It is essential that you understand the size of fire glasses. As a piece is heated in the fire, an air bubble inside will trap heat. Over time, the heat can become too much for the glass and cause it to fracture. Eventually, this will damage the glass. The bigger the size of a piece, the larger the air bubbles. This is why it’s advisable that you use fire glass pieces smaller than one inch.
What is Fire Bead?
Fire beads are a luminous type of fire glass that reflects a great deal when added to a fire pit or fireplace. They are slightly different from regular fire glass. They are jewel-like in appearance, hence the bead name. Unlike typical fire glasses, the shape of beads are thinner and smaller in diameter. Their jewel-like, soft glow appearance comes as a result of silica infusion. This makes it appear differently when added to a fire pit.
Like fire glass, fire beads are suitable for indoor and outdoor use. In addition, they work fine with natural gas or propane fire pits. They come in stunning colors, with luster finishes that creates a lasting impression on onlookers. Like fire glass, these beads are also made from tempered glass that undergoes rigorous processes.
These jewel-like beads don’t emit toxic fumes or generate soots. It doesn’t break, melt, or change color when exposed to high temperatures. Because they are not tumbled during manufacturing, their shine is maintained. Speaking of maintenance, they don’t require regular cleanup, although dust and dirt will accumulate on the glass overtime. These can easily be removed by washing the glass with a mixture of vinegar and water in equal ratios.
Differences Between Fire Glass and Fire Beads
Judging from this post so far, you will realize that there are a lot of similarities between the fire glass and fire bead. Both are made from tempered glass, are decorative pieces, do not gather soot, melt, or break when exposed to high temperatures. Both can be used indoors and outdoors and are suitable for propane and natural gas fireplaces.
The differences between fire glass and fire bead is their shape and size. Fire beads are thinner and come in a smaller diameter. They usually come in ½” and ¾” sizes, against ¼” and ⅜” of fire glass. Additionally, they are more rounded than fire glass and infused with silica to maintain their shine.
Typical fire glass is not as reflective as fire beads. That’s because fire beads are infused with silica. They also allow a larger flame.
Which to Use?
It all depends on what you are looking for. If you want your patio to glow at night with some deep reflections from the fire pit, you should go for fire beads. Other than that, fire glass and beads provide the same value in terms of adding valor and beauty to your patio area. Choosing any of the options will prove to be a worthy investment.