I do far more grilling than barbecuing. I grill pork chops, steaks, burgers, vegetables on a skewer and marinated shrimp on a skewer and sometimes ears of corn. I used to have a smoker and smoked roasts and turkeys. A leg broke off the smoker a few years ago and I never replaced it. The past few years the only time I have used barbecue sauce is to cook things in a crockpot such as chicken breasts, pork ribs, meatballs and kiebalsa ( sp?) I do not poke the food with a fork, nor do I smash hamburgers with a spatula. ( your other thread ) I use tongs to turn them when needed. Angela, I feel the way you do about watching people stabbing the food on the grill with a fork. I can't stand it!!!! Linda

I'll assume the line for the BBQ is sufficient to support the gas fire pit. In most cases they run the BBQ line to a shutoff valve in a box near the BBQ, and then you connect the BBQ to it with flexible line you buy from HD, Lowes, etc. The pipe is protected by being under the patio and underground. However, that flexible line can't be subject to damage, and it sounds like you need to run the line across the patio cement. That won't work if you can't protect it. Extending the gas hard pipe to the fire pit location is possible, but may require cutting concrete to run it under the patio. It is doable, but probably not cheap, and the location is then fixed.. You have to pick the location of the pit and not plan to ever move it around. It may be better to use a freestanding fire pit. Bruce

The perceived warmth from an outdoor fire is dependent on the size of the radiant heat source and the distance from this source. Any natural breeze will effectively negate convective air currents from providing warmth. The size of the radiant source will be either the bed of wood coals, or in the case of a fireplace, includes the hot stone/brick work surrounding the fire bed (look at the Rumford fireplace design). The distance from the radiant source involves the inverse square law (double the distance from the source and the radiated heat drops to 1/4 of the original). Your choice becomes how many people can you get huddled around and how close to either a fireplace (not so easy/safe) or a firepit? Most would choose a large firepit. Notice that I left a gas firepit out of the discussion? Unless the gas flames can heat a bed of something to radiate, IMO, there isn't that much outdoor heating effect available from them., they are more for show.

@einportlandor i actually think moving it would be difficult which was my thought of why built in would be better but my wife wanted me to ask because most people we know buy one from RH etc for more than bullding one so she thinks there must be some benefit