What are the Different Fire Pit Designs?

home garden

Fire pits are permanent or portable containers designed for backyard bonfires and barbecues which have become popular for entertaining and outdoor living. Fire pit designs incorporate a variety of fuel sources and are available in many different shapes and sizes. Some fire pit designs burn wood or natural gas, and may be equipped to roast marshmallows or accompany you on a camping trip.

One of the most attractive and popular fire pit designs is the chimenea. This squat, circular tub sits above the ground on three stout feet. Traditionally made out of ceramic, this outdoor stove was meant to cook food and provide heat by burning wood logs. Now, the chimenea's recognizable shape, with its rounded body and cylindrical, flaring stovepipe, appeals to many homeowners. The fire is made in the rounded body, and fed through an opening in the front. It is a very simple design, and available from the smallest table-top size to a larger patio version. You can find a chimeneas made of cast iron or other metals, as well as the traditional ceramic.

Another choice in fire pit designs is an in-ground, permanent fire pit. These pits start as holes dug into the ground, and then are lined with small walls of stone that extend above the ground. The bricks or rocks insulate the fire from the soil and block the wind. This simple design allows you to build a basic campfire in the backyard, but also gives you a place to set a grill for a few skewers. This type of fire pit can be a focal point of a patio, with seating built in a circle surrounding the pit.

If you cannot afford the expense of a custom built, in-ground fire pit, there are designs that feature the open fire of a built in fire pit with the portability of a chimenea. Copper bowls, for instance, are glittering containers that sit on metal supports and provide a dish in which to build an open bonfire. These round, square, or rectangular fire generally have integrated spark screens to cover the flames, letting in fresh air while keeping flames and sparks from escaping.

These portable fire pit designs work in the desert, beach, woods, or backyard, so your investment goes a long way. Some enclosed fire pits have the option of a rotisserie bar if you want to roast chicken, an ash pan to easily remove debris, or a flat grill to cook hamburgers. With most, you can use either logs or charcoal, depending on your needs.

Some fire pit designs use natural gas instead of wood. This is the case with permanent, built-in fire pits, and they need to be connected to your home's natural gas lines. Designs that use propane are attached to a semi-portable tank and can be integrated into the structure. Just like indoor gas fireplaces, a gas fire pit creates flames above concrete or ceramic logs. The unit may be shaped like a bowl or box, but it doesn't need spark screens. This is a smart design in neighborhoods where wood fires have been outlawed as a fire hazard, but you still crave the warmth and comfort of sitting around leaping, orange flames on a crisp, autumn evening.

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14
to kfoerste: an indoor fire pit would be against building code unless vented outdoors, and the venting would cost more than the firepit. I would opt for a fireplace instead, preferably in a corner where the venting would be hidden by the fireplace. A second option would be a Franklin stove with a tempered glass door, these can be left to burn out overnight safely and will throw a lot of heat if installed with a blower unit.
- bluemoon99
13
To anon22323: Re: longevity of free standing fire pits, cast iron will eventually rust through. The pit I had was cast iron of chinese origin and lasted 9 years outside exposed to rain and snow. I left ashes in it frequently and they would absorb the water and hold it against the iron. I went through 2 vinyl covers that frequently blew off because the elastic did not weather well.

I think copper would last much longer and that is what the replacement will be made of. I favor an actual ground pit lined with brick, but like the ability to move the iron pit to where my yard trash is (tree branches, and old bamboo) for semi-annual clean up. We are banned from yard waste fires from May-October, due to fire hazard. I have not tried ceramic, but I have used a fired clay chimenea, which lasted only 1 year and cracked due to freeze and thaw, just like a clay pot left out in winter. In ground is best for outdoor, followed by copper I think - I'll update you in a decade or two when this one wears out.

- anon36883
12
When I was a kid we had a big cast iron fire pit. It was very heavy. The fire pits I see for sale seem flimsy. Any ideas on where to get a heavy-duty fire pit?
- anon30408
11
Maxx2330, I found out you should NEVER put a gas fire pit inside a screened in porch.
- Spot
10
What is the best type of material that a fire pit should be made of? Does it matter if it is cast iron or ceramic or copper? what last the longest and is the sturdiest?
- anon22323
9
I want to put a fire pit in my living room as a coffee table. is there any problems I should be aware of. fumes? do they have be ventless?
- kfoerste
8
To eaw, I have done the auction donations too, and fire pit tools like a log grabber and poker are good, but by far the one that really gets the bids up is to include Roasting Sticks!
- Len
7
Hey! We are putting together an auction package with a fire pit as the main attraction. Would any of you have any suggestions as to what else we can put in this package? (i.e. marshmallow roasting sticks, etc) thanks!
- eaw
6
We love our natural-gas fire pit! And yes, we do hot-dogs, made s'mores, etc. I covered the 'fire ring' with the lava rocks they supplied, but then instead of adding the 'fakey' logs, I covered the lava with Fire Glass....it is just beautiful, and very different. You can put real logs on top of that if you wish, or you can just watch the flame as it meanders through the Fire Glass. Really a nice thing....we were out there last night for Fathers' Day.
- RetiredMayor
5
To maxx2330, As with any fire, anything around or above the fire needs to be taken into account for safety's sake. The fire pit manufacturer should give you clearance guidelines to go by but unless you have a very large screened in porch, you should think "outside the porch" Good Luck!
- Len
4
Don't worry about stray marshmallows falling into the fire, or meat juices either! They will burn up along with the other combustables. I also suggest that you get Roasting Sticks made of stainless steel which cooks better than other metals, and cleans up eaisily.
- Len
3
@maxx2330: yeah, good idea. make sure the kids are out of the house and your insurance is paid up first.
- anon9084
2
Can you install a gas/propane fire pit on a covered screened in porch?
- maxx2330
1
We want to install a permanent natural gas firepit in our back yard. Can you roast marshmallows or hot dogs on these? What if some of the juice or marshmallow seeps onto the lava rocks or fire "wood"? Is it ruined or will it burn off? Thanks
- anon598

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