A Fire Pit is Year-round Fun!

When most people hear the words “fire pit” they think of chilly weather with mittens and hot chocolate. And yes, fire pits are great for getting outdoors in the winter months. But really, a fire pit creates a year-round backyard event. Consider a fire pit in your backyard in terms of an “urban campfire”: a reason to congregate outdoors during all seasons — including summer — to watch the stars and roast marsh mellows. Yes, we consider a fire pit to be an essential element of our patio environment.

What Kind of Fire Pit Should You Have?

Initially I thought I wanted a huge pit for a crowd of friends to enjoy. Go big or go home, right? I researched one of those corrugated metal rings around which I could encase in stone or pavers . . . the kind you get your feet up on to keep your toes toasty in the cooler air. But that was more involved than I wanted a fire pit to be. And I had some other criteria that my fire pit needed to meet.

My Fire Pit Wishlist:

• Our backyard is sloped so I didn’t want to have to re-grade a large portion of my yard to build a level seating area around the pit. I needed a smaller fire pit that was movable in case I wanted to relocate it in my yard at a later date. A smaller pit meant more intimate fires with fewer friends each time but that’s OK.
• I wanted a fire pit with a mesh or screen over the flames to keep any sparks or embers in-check to prevent fire where it wasn’t wanted. When looking at a larger, custom fire pit, I would have had to go to a metal shop and have a mesh cover fabricated. That added several hundred dollars to the cost — not budget friendly. 
• I also wanted a solid metal cover so when I was done enjoying my patio fire pit and was ready to head inside for the night, I could confidently cover any remaining embers knowing nothing would get out of control as the fire burned itself out. Again, a custom fabrication was required for more dollars then I was willing to spend. I did find some pre-fab options online, but their cost was equal to what I would spend locally plus the cost of shipping. 
• I wanted a fire pit that would hold up in the weather. Stainless steel was my initial choice. 
• And I like things that are well made — beefy. 

And So the Search Began . . .

I looked at many options online and read hundreds of reviews. (I am a faithful reviewer when I buy a product because I rely on reviews so much when I am making a purchase.) I read about wear and tear, early rust, lack of amenities such as the mesh cover I wanted. But I also heard people say how much they and their families enjoyed the time they spent around the fire pit they selected. My search was fruitful because I finally found one option that met all of my wants and needs at the price point I was willing to pay. We bought the Smokeless Wood Fire Pit from Sam’s Club for about $250. For an alternative, click here for another option from Yaheetech.

This pit is stainless steel and double-walled to help cut down on the smoke. It has both a mesh dome to cover the fire while it’s burning to check embers as well as a solid steel cover to close it off when you’re ready for bed. It is big enough/small enough for four to six people to comfortably saddle-up to the fire, winter or summer.  

Can You Put a Fire Pit in Your Backyard?

OK, normally I am anal retentive in terms of details and cover all my bases in the correct order. Not this time (but it worked out OK). After getting the fire pit and putting it all together (it is beefy — yay!), I decided to take some photos of the pit and email the guy in our town who handles code issues. He forwarded my email to the county fire chief. Here’s what the chief said:

• The device pictured would be legal. (Sending a photo was a good idea.)
• Ensure that it is located at least 15 feet from anything that could burn.
• The fire should be attended at all times and extinguished when done.
• Burn only dry, seasoned wood to diminish the amount of smoke the fire may create.
• Locally there are outdoor burning restrictions during certain hours of the day and months of the year due to dry conditions and high winds.

I was very happy that I took the time to check the regulations and get the fire chief’s approval to make sure I was in compliance and we could enjoy our fire pit to the max!

Fire Pit Prep:

Initially, my fire pit area was grass covered and I knew the heat from the fire would scorch the grass so I did dig up the sod and laid in some pavers I had knocking around. This gave me a level spot for the pit and the pavers acted as a heat barrier. However, I have added an update below to show you how we’ve greatly upgraded our back yard fire pit. Check it out!

Despite the pit being stainless steel, I did buy a fabric cover that fit perfectly. It was weather proof but I sprayed a coat of Scotch Guard on it anyway. 

How to Build a Fire

The website rei.com has a fabulous post about building a fire and all that’s involved. See the post here.

To burn a successful fire, you’ll need three types fuel: tinder, kindling, and firewood.

• Tinder includes small twigs, dry leaves, needles or forest duff. Or, you could use livingonthepatio.com Fire Starter Pouches as your tinder.
• Kindling consists of small sticks, typically less than one inch around.
• Firewood is any larger piece of wood and is what will keep your fire going long into the night.

Are Fire Pits a Good Idea?

Absolutely! We have found it is one of the best ways to spark conversation (no pun intended) and spend an hour or two with people who willingly do not check their cell phones for any reason — the fire is that engaging. And it offers a chance for you to get creative:

• When you’re around the fire and it’s chilly outside, wrap your hands around one of Julie’s Hot Toddys. 
• When you’re around the fire on a balmy summer night, grab a cold beer and enjoy some sausage wontons or homemade pizza. 
• Finally, you can explore various aromas the burning wood creates. Our favorite, after spending several decades living in and traveling around Colorado and New Mexico, is the smell of Pinyon wood from the Pinyon pine trees that grow in the southwestern U.S. It is truly a unique and enticing aroma. Search for it online to find local suppliers. 

Fire Pit UPDATE

OK, it’s been about 3 years (2022) since our original fire pit post. We’ve created a number of new “zones” in our outdoor living space and one of those zones is a substantial fire pit area. So, fast forward to the summer of 2025 and check out how we have seriously upgraded our outdoor fire pit area.

Upgraded Fire Pit Surface Area

We researched a number of surface area materials for the fire pit base:

Wood Deck
A “floating” wood deck was an option because it would be relatively easy for a carpenter novice like myself to build. After all, I did build my grilling deck and a fire pit deck would be very similar. Plus, the materials would be budget friendly. But since our yard is on about a six degree downhill grade I would have to deal with support posts on the downhill side, most likely mounted in post holes (dug in the hard Virginia clay soil) and filled with Quickrete. And then there is the yearly maintenance of cleaning and resealing the wood surface. More trouble than I wanted.

Gravel
Next I researched building a wood frame outlining the perimeter of the fire pit area. I’d lay down a pervious ground cover to let the water from rain and snow drain away but impede weed growth, and then fill the frame with granite gravel. It would have been an inexpensive option but a tremendous amount of sweat equity. And comments made on YouTube by others who had built similar patio area surfaces complained about the loose gravel making a mess as well as the non-solid surface making sitting in chairs on the gravel an uncomfortable experience. This option got crossed off the list.

Concrete Pad
We are happy with our original concrete patio which is 12 feet wide and 36 feet long. It is a clean, hard surface, low maintenance, easy to remove snow from it in the winter time, and comfortable for sitting. Since we had another space we were developing that also needed a hard surface in addition to our fire pit area, we decided to get some concrete quotes. I was surprised that the cost was much lower than anticipated and we moved forward with two ten foot square concrete pads in our outdoor living space. 

The pads were laid in one day and we let the concrete cure for 28 days before sealing it and setting up our fire pit. We are very happy with this option and it has worked beautifully. Here’s how the two pads looked while they were curing.

Fire Pit Seating

We had four wrought iron chairs that we had been using on the big patio that we moved to the fire pit are and then searched for two more so we could seat six people around our fire pit on the concrete pad. There is more room for camp chairs on the grass around the pit area. We love the wrought iron look and durability — easy to leave out all seasons as they hold up very well and are comfortable around the fire.

Fire Pit Tables

Of course, what’s a outdoor fire pit experience, whether it’s summer or winter, without some sort of beverages and snacks. And that requires small tables for mugs and/or glasses filled with hot toddys, hot chocolate, margaritas, ice tea, a cosmopolitan . . . and snack plates. 

In the true sense of re-purposing materials available, I used some stool seats that Julie had retrieved from the curb on trash day and built some tables using hardware that had been part of a now defunct pergola we had replaced with a metal gazebo on our big patio. Here are some photos:

Fire-Wood Caddy

Finally, we needed a structure to store our fire wood and keep it dry as best we could so our wood fuel would be fire-ready whenever we wanted to enjoy a back yard fire. Now, let me again state that I am in no way a carpenter. I am a hacker. And I love to design items around re-useable material that we already have to keep the cost reasonable. 

I had two eight foot 4x4s, again from the now defunct pergola, so I cut them both in to making the height of my wood caddy four feet. The width was determined by two factors. First, most pieces of fire wood are cut to about 16 inches long (I measured various fire-wood bundles at my local big box hardware store). And second, I had a piece of corrugated steel left over from the roof I put on my grilling deck that I wanted to use for the top of the wood caddy. Finally, I had some scrap 2x4s that were chemically treated for outdoor, weather-exposed use. I used those to build a beefy platform on which to stack my firewood knowing that, when filled, it would amount to substantial weight. Not fancy, but not ugly. Worthy of an outdoor living space fire pit.

And that’s it!

Get Started

I hope this update will help you either get started with your fire pit area or improve what you already have at minimal cost and effort. Comfortable seating around a safe fire can be the catalyst for a fun evening, initiate stimulating conversation, and offer the enjoyment of the company of great friends. If you haven’t already built a fire pit area in your outdoor living space we encourage you to make it happen. Have fun and remember, every day is Friday on the patio!

Fire Pit FAQs

What are the benefits of having a fire pit?

Having a fire pit offers benefits like extending outdoor living into cooler months, creating a cozy ambiance for socializing, serving as a focal point for gatherings, providing warmth and light, potentially increasing home value, offering cooking versatility, and even reducing stress through the calming effect of fire.

Can I put a fire pit in my backyard?

Yes, you can usually have a fire pit in your backyard, but you must check local city/county ordinances for rules (permits, burn bans, distance from structures/property lines) and follow safety guidelines, like keeping it away from combustibles, having water/extinguisher nearby, never leaving it unattended, and avoiding burning on windy days or during poor air quality alerts.

How far should a fire pit be away from a house?

You should place a fire pit at least 10 to 25 feet away from your house, structures, and flammable materials, with 25 feet being a safer recommendation, and always ensure it’s on a non-combustible surface with clearance from overhead branches and power lines, checking local codes first.

Do and don’ts of fire pit?

Don’t wear flammable clothing (like nylon) or any loose-fitting clothing. Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the fire. Avoid using soft woods like pine or cedar because they can pop and throw sparks. Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of water nearby.

Do fire pits increase home value?

Adding a fire pit to your outdoor space can do more than simply offer warmth — it transforms your backyard into a cozy, inviting atmosphere that promotes social connection and boosts your home’s property value.  

Please Leave a Comment

Was this information helpful? Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or tell us what we missed and can add to this post. Do you have a fire pit area? How often do you use it? Do you use it all seasons? What’s your favorite thing about being around your fire pit? If you don’t have a fire pit and you want one, what do you need to make it happen? Please share your thoughts and impressions. And tell your locale — we’re in Roanoke, Virginia, USA. Where are you?

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