A question a lot of people ask, is should I get a fire pit or a fireplace? Which would my family and friends want to sit around? There are 5 things to consider when making this choice.
Seating
Most people choose a circular fire pit because they feel it offers more space for guests to pull chairs around than a fireplace. Clear Water Landscapes can build a fire pit so that the top is just at the right height to allow many people to put their feet up while enjoying a glass of wine and good conversation. For a fireplace, we usually build a raised hearth also to give people a place to sit next to the fire and also to put their feet up and relax.
Garden Focal Point
Making sure you have a beautiful focal point in your outdoor living area will add a lot to how your space feels.
Having a beautifully crafted fireplace as the focal point of your outdoor living area will add a lot to how your space feels. After all, the fireplace is the iconic symbol of “home.” It suggests a central anchor for family and friends. Even when viewed from inside the house while washing dishes at the kitchen sink, the fireplace will evoke memories of family events with the laughter and warmth of the times spent in front of it. So the picturesque quality of a nice stone fireplace can give you a feeling of warmth even when it’s not in use.
Smoke
Both fire pits and fireplaces can be wood burning or gas burning. Do you want the romance of crackling wood and the aroma of wafting smoke bringing you back to campfires as a kid? Some folks say that they absolutely love the old-time ambiance of a wood fire on a crisp evening. Others don’t like their clothes and hair smelling like smoke or the added annoyance of having to move their chairs around to get out of the way of blowing smoke.
Also keep in mind that a wood burning fireplace will smell of ashes if it is not cleaned out or covered from the rain. Gas units burn clean and there is no smell. The heat produced is the same for both.
There is a new product we love called a “nearly smokeless fire pit” from Breeo (and our clients love it too). The unit pulls smoke down under the edges of the fire pit where it is heated and re-burned, producing a nearly smokeless fire pit. It’s relatively inexpensive and is a great new technology we recommend you consider if you want the romance of a fire pit without all the smoke.
Materials
Natural stone is the optimal choice for fire pits and fireplaces; however, the cost is much higher than the alternative material – concrete block. While the phrase may not sound appealing, concrete block products from look very good. If you find the right style, texture and color, you can save a lot of budget on the installation and material cost.
Let the experts at Clear Water Landscape help you choose the right fire feature for your outdoor living space. With many years of experience, we have the knowledge and skill to advise you and install the type you choose. Contact us for a free quote.
