Posted by Fire Pit Art on Aug 21st 2019

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Custom Fire Pit

If you're looking for a fire pit to bring the rustic charm of the great outdoors to your backyard, and none of the pre-made models work for your backyard or tastes. That's where a custom fire pit comes into play - with a custom design by Rick Wittrig, you can build your dream fire pit with the help of a specialist at Fire Pit Art®. Building a personalized fire pit begins with knowing the style of fire pit you want and adapting that to space, taste, and other concerns.

Whether you want a stunning centerpiece for parties or a raised pit ideal for cookouts, there's a custom fire pit for you out there - you just need the perfect partner. We're Fire Pit Art®, a fire pit design and manufacturing company based in Lebanon, Tennessee, and we're here to help you take your perfect fire pit from design to completion. Read on to learn about the ultimate guide to buying and assembling a custom fire pit.

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Custom Fire Pit

Step One - Pick Your Style

Fire pits come in many styles, ranging from fire bowls that fit on a backyard patio table to large open structures based on stone or brick. Bowl pits or wheeled portable fire pits are ideal for small cookouts and can be stored in the house when not in use. Larger in-ground fire pits are ideal for serving as the centerpiece of a large backyard, and are used by people who have frequent get-togethers.

Step Two - Pick Your Fuel

There are three common fuels used in backyard fire pits, starting with the oldest fuel - an open wood fire. A wood-burning fire burns the hottest of any fire pit and is ideal for cooking, but needs to be stoked with more wood regularly. It's also not ideal for smaller areas or windy days due to the risk of flying embers.

Natural gas is the easiest fuel to use - you just hook the hose up to your fire pit and it stays going as long as the supply is on - but it doesn't burn as hot as wood thus it isn't ideal for cooking. Propane burns slightly hotter than natural gas, but the propane tank needs to be refilled and the gas rings can get clogged if not cleaned regularly.

Step Three - Know Your Dimensions

This will depend heavily on the dimensions of your backyard, as fire pits should be safely away from any wood structures, flammable materials, or hanging tree branches. Fire pits typically range in size from twenty to forty-five inches in diameter, with the smaller ones being bowls and medium to larger sized units coming in a variety of shapes including globes and linear or rectangular styles.

Step Four - Pick Your Materials

While the vast majority choose our ¼” thick Mild Carbon Steel fire pits which will last for decades. Fire Pit Art® also offers Stainless Steel in a limited variety of designs styles. Stainless steel fire pits are a more expensive option, but are highly resistant to rain and rust and are easy to clean.

Step Five - Know Your Local Laws

If you are thinking of a very large custom fire pit, requiring a gas line or live in a concentrated area. We recommend paying a visit to your local municipality's zoning office to check regulations about backyard fire pits. It's a lot easier to change dimensions before the ground has been broken.

Step Six - Pick Your Contractor

When it comes to large size custom fire pits or running direct natural gas lines, you may need to hire a contractor. We recommend you work with a professional. The more complete your vision for your ideal fire pit is before your first meeting, the smoother the client-to-contractor relationship will be.

Let Us Bring Your Perfect Fire Pit to Life

Is the ideal fire pit for you one that doesn't exist yet? It will, when you work with Fire Pit Art®.