Fire Pits vs Fireplaces

February 18, 2020

Nothing beats sitting by a roaring fire, surrounded by loved ones and good conversation, if you like you are missing out on this amazing experience you should definitely think about adding a Fire Pit or a Fireplace to your backyard. Fire Pits and Fireplaces are similar; offering warmth, light and an interactive experience, however there are distinct differences between the two.

Fire Pit

Fire Pits have an innate quality to them that draws people together creating the perfect place for family and friends to gather and make memories that will last a lifetime. The Fire Pits open layout creates the ideal place for entertaining. Their proximity to the ground allows for unimpeded views of the rest of your backyard. Your landscape designer will look into the rules and regulations of your township so that your fire pit will be in adherence to your town’s specific ordinances. A key thing to remember is you will need to pick a location that is not too windy, because the fire of the fire pit is open. All in all, fire pits are an amazing way for families and friends to come together and enjoy each other's time.

Fireplace

Fireplaces are romantic and sexy. Fireplaces offer a more intimate experience than fire pits because of their design. Fireplaces only heat those who are sitting directly in front of the fire meaning that sitting is limited. This creates an intimate atmosphere that is manifested through a romantic ambiance. We recommend placing your fireplace relatively close to your home because the farther away the fireplace is it tends to lose its impact and is used less than if it was closer to your house. Because fireplaces are typically erected with an overhead structure this allows for TV or sound systems to be mounted onto the fireplace making them the perfect centerpiece for your backyard.

Fuel

One last important factor to consider when deciding what kind of Fire accent you’d like to add to your home is the fuel source you’ll be using. If you love the smell of campfires then wood-burning fire pits or fireplaces maybe your best bet. However, you must remember you will need to keep an eye on the fire while it is roaring and make sure the fire and embers are extinguished after the party is over. An alternative to wood is a natural gas or propane fire pit or fireplace. Natural gas requires much less maintenance than their wood-burning counterparts but the trade off is that you do not get the iconic campfire smell. If you do elect to go with a natural gas fire accent make sure your landscape designer takes the proper steps to install the gas line and is up to code with your townships ordinances.

If you know that you want a fire feature in your outdoor living space but are still not sure which one would best serve your family, reach out to Superior Pavers! We are a full-service Hardscaping and Softscaping Contracting company so we will be able to help every step of the way from helping you choose the ideal fire feature for your home that will best fit your family’s needs to build the fire feature of your dreams. Fill out our contact form to speak to one of our experienced designers for a FREE estimate.