A patio built out of paving stones – or pavers – is a very pleasant addition to any garden, an alternative to decking which is harder-wearing and endlessly customizable. Once it’s in place, you can add more or less what you want. This includes patio furniture, heaters, potentially a water feature, maybe a barbecue grill… and for an increasing number of people, it’s a good idea to add a fire pit. In keeping with the look of the patio itself, a great fire pit can be built from stones.
DIY Fire Pit
It is possible to take the DIY approach when building a fire pit. With the correct materials – which can be as simple as just a collection of wall block stones and some flat ground – you can build a fire pit on your paved patio in as short a space of time as one hour.
The first decision you need to make is where you want to have the pavers fire pit. Not to be too obvious, but you have to remember you’ll be lighting a fire within it, so it needs to be located somewhere that you can safely do this. Keeping it well away from your patio doors and any windows is essential, and it should be a safe distance from any furniture too. Even when well-controlled, fire will give off a level of heat that can melt or warp furniture. By all means, when the fire is at an acceptable level, you can arrange furniture close to it and sit nearby. It simply needs to be the case that the pit itself is not close to the permanent location of anything that can be harmed.
Best Stone for Outdoor Fire Pit
You will also need to decide on the kind of stones you want to use for the fire pit. Usually, a good choice will be to pick stones that somewhat match the patio stones. They do not need to be identical in color but should provide a pleasant contrast that is easy on the eye and will look good both when the firepit is in use and when it is not. Most importantly of all, they need to be able to stand up to the flames and temperature of the fire, so it’s important to check the best types of fire pit stones that can do this.
Build it Yourself or Hire Fire Pit Builders
The final element is to choose a way of building the fire pit, and at this point, a key decision is to decide whether you are going to build it yourself or leave it to expert fire pit builders. If you do go your own way, you’ll need to decide whether you are going to use mortar to hold the stones together or whether you favor a simple dry-stone approach. Bear in mind that the latter may allow more scope for stones to expand when heated, and may therefore be the safer option.
Leave it to the Professionals
Ideally, though, it would be best to leave it to the professionals who can build not only a fire pit but a patio around the fire pit. Companies like Sequoia Stonescapes have years of experience in creating wonderful garden accessories from stone material. They can guarantee a finished job that is both stunning to look at and guaranteed to be safe – and will be able to offer advice on the best options when it comes to materials and placement. If you’d like a stone fire pit on top of your patio, why not give us a call today!
At Sequoia Stonescape, we’re passionate about outdoor hardscaping
With over 10 years of experience, our family-owned paver installation company would love to help. We also provide peace of mind with a 5-year warranty. Get in touch with us at (503)-932-7605. We’ve got an eye for practical solutions and can help you create beautiful outdoor esthetics for your front or backyard.