Is Your Wheaton, IL Landscape Design Missing a Cozy Touch? A Fire Pit Could Be the Answer
Your backyard is meant to be enjoyed as a place for gathering and relaxing - and not just in the balmy evenings of summer. Even some of the coldest nights can be enjoyed outdoors with the assistance of a fire pit, a fire feature that can make a wonderful impact on your outdoor lifestyle. As you continue your landscape renovation, consider the question: is your Wheaton, IL landscape design missing a cozy touch? A fire pit could be the answer.
The Basic Structure
Fire pits are masonry structures made from stone blocks, natural stone, or concrete blocks with a stone veneer. The base is arranged in either a circular formation or a square, evoking the most primitive of campfires our distant ancestors used to build. This basic structure of a fire pit has been a successful model for building fires for millions of years, and technology hasn’t needed to change very much. The main idea of the fire pit is that people will be able to gather on all sides to enjoy the warmth and light the fire has to offer.
The Fuel
Fire pits can use wood or natural gas or propane as the fuel. Firewood provides a much more natural, outdoors campfire kind of feeling with all the smoke, boiling sap and water that crackles and pops, and the interactive maintenance it takes to keep a fire going. However, you’re somewhat limited in its placement as a wood-fueled fire pit must be kept away from combustible surfaces.
Gas-fueled fire pits can be controlled with the turn of a dial or using a smartphone app on newer models. Gas does much of the same in a fire pit, yet the cleanliness and safety are attractive features. Some homeowners might enjoy the ease of using a gas-fueled fire pit, while others might want to keep things basic and similar to camping experiences. Natural gas or propane-fueled fire pits can be placed anywhere, although the cost of running a gas line is something to consider.
A Gathering Area
Fire pits are natural gathering places in your backyard. Whether it’s the center of all the action or in a secluded area off to the side, your friends and family will be drawn to the flickering light and warmth. That’s why it’s only natural to plan a good seating area around your fire pit, giving it some decent patio space for people to gather.
You could include some high-backed seat walls in the plan, making the fire pit area the most comfortable place in the outdoor living space. High-backed masonry seat walls also provide some shelter from chilly winds and trap heat in the small area.
Creative and Elegant Masonry
A fire naturally draws the eye, so a fire pit presents a wonderful opportunity to showcase some creativity and elegance in masonry. While the general design of the fire pit should mimic the surrounding landscape masonry features and the home, here you can add some extra flourish to the design and make something truly unique. Consider the outer ring or four-sided surface of the fire pit a wonderful place to put in some extra tiles or contrasting stone. Also, be sure to consider a beautiful and striking stone color for the capstone of the fire pit.
Additional Lighting
Fires fueled by firewood will lose their energy as the wood is burned up and there will be much less ambient light as a result. Compensate with this loss in ambience by including some soft LED lights under the capstone of the fire pit so no one gets left in the dark.