Thoughts on Fire Pit Types for My Pool Build


 
LarryR

LarryR

TVWBB Diamond Member
Getting ready to finalize my pool/landscaping designs and I'm stuck on the fire pit. At first I was thinking natural gas but after hanging out around one on a cool night I've decided they're really more for decoration than generating significant heat (btw I do think they look cool). My next option is buying a pre-fab unit that runs off propane, but I don't really like the look of these. Now I'm leaning towards wood burning except it seems all the women in my life are voting against that due to the fact that they don't want to smell like smoke after sitting around the pit drinking wine.

Anyone have thoughts on these units, other pros/cons I haven't thought of. Thanks in advance.
 
I don't know the budget but if I ever re did my backyard I would build an outdoor fireplace. They look nice, burn wood, put out a lot of heat and the chimney draws the smoke up so you do not smell like wood. Personally I love the wood burning smell but I understand some do not. That's my two cents!

something like this!


I own a little chimnea that I love! It does not put out a ton of heat but enough for North Texas.
 
I like Tommy's idea, because for me it would have to be wood burning.
Maybe a fireplace/oven combo?
Paste this in an Amazon search:
Aztec Allure Cast Iron Pizza Oven Chiminea


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We have two fire pits for out patio, a wood burning one that looks like a chiminea for the winter time that puts out some pretty good heat and a propane one that has the colored glass where the flames are for ambiance. Seems like everyone like the propane one better, one its not that cold outside when we use it, you don't have to play musical chairs trying to get way from the smoke when the wind changes and you don't end up smelling like smoke at the end of the night. Me, I like the wood burning one because it reminds me of our camping trips.
 
My first thought when reading your post was 'how about a fireplace'? So I think Tommy summed it up. The flue/chimney will direct the smoke upwards and if you have it high enough, it'll go right over your heads while your sittin' and sippin'. A large chimnea might do the trick as well.
 
Fireplace is very interesting. We're building a cabana and I ran across this picture. The cabana is nothing like the one we're building with the exception of the roof and four posts, but, I found a picture with a structure similar enough with a fireplace at the end. Something like this could work . . .

 
Awesome thread! I'm in the same boat, we're fencing in our back yard in a few weeks and i'm trying to figure out how i want to do the fire pit. I can't remember if i saw this link on here or somewhere else but any thoughts on this? Brownie points for incorporating a weber charcoal grill!

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http://www.instructables.com/id/50-fire-pit-using-concrete-tree-rings/?ALLSTEPS

i remember reading some comments somewhere of people bashing it saying the rocks/stone could blow up or something, any truth to that?
 
Wood, is the only way to go IMO. This is mine before the patio was finished

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Bad cell phone photo at night a month or so ago, cooking steaks and asparagus, best steaks EVER! Over oak

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My view while having a bourbon drink on my patio :)

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A good raised hearth fireplace, say hearth raised to 36 to 40 inches above ground would be my choice.
With a grate you can cook on it, and when your done cooking, raise the grate,add wood to the coals and have
a nice fire to watch while you eat.
 
Some good ideas and I like the fireplace also. I would add to check your local fire/code ordinances. In my area any outdoor wood burning fire pit has to have a spark arrestor / screen and a lid to extinguish the flames.

Tim
 
With you now living in the BBQ world. I would think a little ahead on this. I would take a pic of mine but, It's buried under snow and broken down for the winter. I took a combo of these three and made a pit. It's a outstanding cooker,slow cooker, and fire pit.

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I went wood and weber. Watched Craigslist for over a year and finally found the discontinued weber fireplace. I like this since it is portable. I can use it around the patio where I cook/smoke in the back yard or have it out front in an area we have dedicated as a warming spot. One thing about wood burners is the smoke smelling clothes, but we don't mind it much since we camp a lot and are used to campfire smoke.
 
I'd recommend portable because your mind will change at least once however I do recommend running a gas line to where you think your fire pit might end up. Gas is nice when you don't feel firing up wood
 
LarryR said:
Fireplace is very interesting. We're building a cabana and I ran across this picture. The cabana is nothing like the one we're building with the exception of the roof and four posts, but, I found a picture with a structure similar enough with a fireplace at the end. Something like this could work . . .

Click to expand...


My Brother in Law has a cover similar to this and but it is enclosed on two sides. He added a wood stove to his and just ran a stove pipe up and out the top of his cover. It looks really nice and works really good too.
 
LarryR said:
Getting ready to finalize my pool/landscaping designs and I'm stuck on the fire pit. At first I was thinking natural gas but after hanging out around one on a cool night I've decided they're really more for decoration than generating significant heat (btw I do think they look cool). My next option is buying a pre-fab unit that runs off propane, but I don't really like the look of these. Now I'm leaning towards wood burning except it seems all the women in my life are voting against that due to the fact that they don't want to smell like smoke after sitting around the pit drinking wine.

Anyone have thoughts on these units, other pros/cons I haven't thought of. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

With all opinions aside. Build what works for you. If you have the option and budget of building a "traditional fireplace" like in the picture. Then rock it. Run natural gas to give the wife her wants with the option of firing off wood. I've seen some pretty cool fireplaces with built in cooking grates and hooks for dutch ovens. It would also be the time to sneak in a pizza oven. Just keep in mind what direction the wind travels if you do a built in fireplace. That's the #1 "I never thought about that" mistake. Keep us updated
 
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