Things to consider before building your own gas fire pit
Fire pits add comfort and ambience to a crisp cold evening in the backyard, where you can catch up with your family and friends. People living in places that have winter almost all year round can utilize fire pits to the maximum, making it a worth the initial investment.
Here are some things you need to consider before you plan to build a gas fire pit:
Safety is the primary factor when it comes to building your own gas fire pit. Make sure the site where you are planning to build a pit is at a considerable distance from flammable surfaces.
Gas fire pits on propane or natural gas. There are kits available that can convert one gas source to the other. Propane fire pits offer portability if your fuel comes from a small propane tank. You need a permanent fire pit structure if you are planning to attach a gas fire pit to the natural gas line of your home.
Gas fire pits can be easily constructed using a drop-in fire pit kit. These kits are usually bowl-shaped and are ready to install into the fire pit. All you need is to create the enclosure, which can be created from stacked bricks, cinderblocks, or concrete pavers.
You can use gas fire pits that use powder-coated steel frames. You can screw cement board to these frames and finish it with tile, brick, or mortar and stone. Once you have installed the frame, consider which type of burner you will be using for your pit followed by fill material, like lava rock or fire glass.
Although burner pans are optional with gas fire pits, they help support the burner and the material used for covering the burner. A heat-tolerant material like lava rock or fire glass should be preferred to cover the burner. You can also use fire glass and select different colors and sizes to create a truly custom fire pit experience. Furthermore, fire glass produces more heat than lava rocks.
Avoid using river rocks or regular stones inside your gas fire pit as they will be exposed to the intense heat of the flames. River rocks can explode if they come in contact with intense fire as the water in the rocks might convert into steam.
