A fire pit can add something extra to your outdoor space. It creates an atmosphere of relaxation and recreate fondly memories. This is why most families talk in the patio where fire pits are lit. During summer, fire pits can keep you warm, and you will still have a chance to talk about stories. All-year round, fire pits are beautiful.
To even better the sight of fire pits, you can add a fire pit glass. Although designed to keep the flames burning, they have been deployed in a variety of ways to improve the outdoor appearance. Sometimes, fire glass burns excessively, and you may need to reduce the flare. Use less expensive base filler materials to minimize the flare. Lava rocks are cheap and readily available, but they are not ideal as fillers because of their porous nature and light weight. They are great for decorating, but not for fire pits. They could explode inside the fire pit.
What Is Fire Pit Glass?
Fire pit glass is safe-to-use material that is placed over a fire pit, particularly a propane and natural gas fire pit to keep the flare going. Fire pit glass withstands high temperatures when exposed to heat. They come in different colors, shapes, and sizes, and sometimes, that makes choosing the right one tough. Apart from the fact that fire glass was traditionally created to maintain flares, you can use them to cover up all those non-appealing stuff that you toss into the fire once in a while. Some of them come in drab colors to absorb those sooth, while others come in colors that leave visitors wowed. If you are looking for a cost-effective way of enriching your home, fire glass is a nice option. It can add a whole new vibe to your outdoor space.
Most people assume that fire glasses burn on their own and without any repellant, like charcoal. Like propane and natural gas fire pits, they need a fuel source of either propane or gas. Because of fire glasses need a fuel source to keep burning, you can’t use them on wood-burning pits. Fire glass is not flammable, so it won’t start to burn if someone attempts to light it up. That is the beauty of it, and that makes it almost perfectly safe to use.
What Glass to Use for Fire Pit?
It’s not safe to use regular broken glasses, such as beer, wine bottle, or food containers. They are potentially dangerous, can explode, and cause injuries due to their sharp edges. Good-quality fire glasses to not emit toxic fumes or explode. Fire glasses are fillers that are safe to use with fire pits. However, 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.
The amount of glass you need depends on the size of the fire pit. A large sq. ft. fire pit tray that’s about 2” deep will need a ¼” size glass. Fire pit glasses last a life time under normal circumstances if they are well-maintained. You may need to wash them when they get dirty, but that happens once in a while.
How to Light Fire Glass In a Fire Pit
To light fire glass in a fire pit, you need an extended lighter. Simply turn the gas on, hold the extended lighter close to the running burner. With the gas activated, the fire will light, and it will stay so until you turn the gas off. Ensure you have the desired amount of propane or natural gas.
Fire Beads Vs. Fire Glass
Fire beads are a type of fire glass. They are uniformly shaped, and comes with modern features. They are polished and give out a reflective appearance. Not all types of fire glass are reflective, so if you are in the market for a reflective fire glass, you should be meticulous with your choice.
Related Questions
1. Should fire glass cover the burner?
You should cover the burner with glass so that the burner isn’t visible. Glass is not flammable, so it can’t burn in a fire.
2. Which fire pit glass is most reflective?
Fire beads are one of the most reflective fire glasses. Other reflective fire glasses include; zircon fire glass, fire cubes, etc.
3. What size fire glass is best?
1” fire glass is the best size of fire glass.
Conclusion
Fire glasses provide more than just maintaining the flare of gas or propane fire pits. They acts as decorative tools that can add valor and appeal to your living space. With different types out there, you can choose the right color, shape, and size that suits the appearance of both your fire pits and home.