Built-in fire pit or portable? I could use some advice!
Violet Lee
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Judy Mishkin
5 years agoauntthelma
5 years agoRelated Discussions
What sort of benches would you use around fire pit?
Comments (3)Beautiful fire pit. What about using two vertical six inch slabs with the edges cut square - would contrast against the uncut edges of the seat slab as well as be a bit narrower than the slab, which would scale nicely. Anchor legs with exterior grade construction adhesive and two or three countersunk hex lag screws w/washers through predrilled holes in the seat slab and hide the heads with homemade dowel plugs of the same type of wood as the seat. Consider using qty. 2 - 6 inch debarked round logs per bench with ends cut to 45 degrees for braces mounted on the insides of the legs to the underside of the bench seat. One per leg. Adds rigidity (which isn't necessary if using construction adhesive as mentioned previously) but also adds to the appearance of the bench by softening all the right angles. Anchor the braces with exterior grade construction adhesive and one hex lag and washer at each end, through predrilled countersunk 45 degree holes in the brace logs rather than boring holes through the seat and legs. The bolt heads could be left exposed because they are out of primary view. A jig can be made to drill the holes safely and accurately. Full log sections for legs are o.k. but would make the benches quite heavy - as you are well aware it is nice to be able to move the benches based on where the wind direction is blowing the smoke from the fire. The issue is not whether YOU are able to move them around but whether other possibly weaker people can move them around if the need arises and someone of strong constitution is not around to help them. Half-round log sections might look nice, with the round sides inward and the cut sides facing out. Would add some depth of interest and contrast with all the angles and flat surfaces of the bench. Maybe use an oversize log and put a 4-6 inch flat surface front and back to make short sides rather than having the radius meet the main cut side. So in effect you have 3 sides and a radius rather than 1 side and a radius. Hope this makes sense. Be aware of possible bench wobble due to high spots on the flagstone. Don't know if this will be a safety issue or not but one wants to be very careful around active fires. Imagine a nice fire going with kids climbing on the benches and one tips over towards the fire - or knocks the kid against the stone wall. Sure, people are not supposed to be climbing on the benches but that is not the point - sooner or later someone will, so this possibility should be considered and any safety issues addressed. Have Fun! -Tom...See MoreFire Pits -- trendy danger?
Comments (9)You can roast marshmallows over a gas powered fire pit. The gooey sugar that drops into the pit will eventually burn to dust or it can carmalize on the top stones or glass. I've never had one clog a flame ring or bar. Interesting that you mention the 'good smell'. When I smell smoke I cringe in disgust and try to get as far away as possible. I know if you can smell it then there is carcinogenic particulate matter in the air and that's the tiny stuff that gets into your lungs and causes all kinds of health issues ranging from asthma, lung disease and heart disease. Interestingly, from a design perspective, most people who ask for a fire pit want one that is easy to operate ( a turn of a handle ) and they don't want to smell like a camp fire when they turn the thing off. - I put a wood burning fire pit in for a family with 5 kids and a year later they asked to have it converted to gas because she had to bathe the kids to get the smell of smoke out before going to bed . Woody, I think the fire pit thing is popular in certain locations due to climate and probably even affluence has an impact. Here in Cal. we have pleasantly cool evening temperatures and few mosquitoes which makes sipping a bottle of Napa Chard around a fire an enjoyable event so they have been pretty common around here for ages. * Google what is happening in Southern Cal regarding their beloved beach fires. A current HOT topic ... the mayor of one beach town is saying " that fire pits are a part of our California heritage". photo - a gas fired pit with metal sculpture - Squaw Valley Lake Tahoe CA. Here is a link that might be useful: http://burningissues.org/car-www/index.html...See MoreRegret hardscaping fire pit?
Comments (12)I think you help raise some questions about usage that can cause us to stop and think about the interesting phenomenon of us homeowners trying to "own" so many possible experiences in our personal places of residence--the cocooning phenomenon and the idea of having a spa-like envrionment at home. Sitting by a firepit seems, or is, nice on an occasion when we have experienced it, so maybe we should have access all the time. Sitting in a hot tub is nice, so get one of those. Watching koi in a pond is nice, so maybe have that. And so on. I'm not at all trying to say that you are on the wrong track--instead, am agreeing that you're doing a good thing to think, how much will I use this; will I end up forcing the "let's sit out by the firepit 'cause we have it and need to make use of it" when you'd rather curl up with a book in the house; as you note with the question of wood vs. gas, do you anticipate having several hours of continuous use of the pit once you've got the wood going, or are you more likely to say, well, my hour is up, got other things to do. Weather and climate are huge issues too, since I can clearly see some climates where it is cool and delightful (with no mosquitoes) and firepits or outdoor fireplaces really could get a lot of use; you'll need to decide if it's for "show" when weather is really mild (and will it bother you to burn wood), or if weather is kinda nippy, will you really want to huddle round the pit; will everyone smell like woodsmoke, and will they like that; do you have kids like teenagers who might in fact "hang out" at your house if they can burn something, and that could be a good thing. The conversion to table or usable floorspace is a neat idea and might sway you, since it'd be there if you want, but not the gaping pit; OTOH, that pit, raised or flat, still won't be as flexible for as many uses covered as would plain patio, if you're limited on your total space and "floorplan". One of the things I realized was that I just didn't currently live the life of the firepit or some other similar creations, and I ought to instead take trips a few times a year to experience some of these things in a vacation mode, but not try to own them for infrequent in-home experiences. But still it makes perfect sense to try to identify those things that you will really use, and more conveniently and less expensively, by having them at home....See MoreCould use some advice on a small powder room re-do
Comments (12)If your quartz countertop is solid or just has flecks of sparkle, it's nice to bring some pattern in with the floor tile. You can also add some pattern to the floor with the way you lay the tile. Try to find a tile store that also sells quartz so you can coordinate the two. Be aware that you may have to add a new subfloor for the tile, which would make the tile higher than the hardwood in the hallway. This happened in our kitchen when we replaced sheet vinyl with porcelain tile. I do not like the wooden "speed bump" strip between the hardwood and tile. We would have liked to use porcelain tile in our guest bath remodel, but again, it would be higher than the adjacent carpet. We used Armstrong Alterna LVT. There aren't as many color and pattern choices as porcelain tile, but it it has a limestone composite base and is grouted just like real tile, so it's not really vinyl-y. Nice stuff, and a lot cheaper than porcelain tile....See MoreViolet Lee
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