As the weather cools and evenings get shorter, we start hearing the same question from homeowners: “How do we keep using our backyard past September?” The answer, almost always, is fire.
A well-placed fire feature is one of the simplest ways to stretch the outdoor season into fall and winter. But before you buy the first fire pit you see online, it is important to understand your options.
Fire Pit vs. Fire Feature
A traditional fire pit may be wood-burning, or gas and freestanding or built-in. This is great for casual gatherings and classic backyard nights. A fire feature is a broader term that includes linear gas fire tables, fireplaces, and fire features integrated into a seating wall or outdoor kitchen island. The right choice depends on how you use your space. Do you want a central gathering spot, or a warm accent near your outdoor kitchen or seating area?
Wood-Burning or Gas?
Wood-burning fire pits have classic crackle-and-smoke appeal, but they require more upkeep, produce smoke and ash, and often have more restrictions depending on your county. Gas fire features light instantly, burn cleaner, and can be turned off the moment the last guest heads inside. Most of the fire features we design today are gas, simply because they get more use and there is no wood to stack, no ash to clean, and no waiting for coal to get hot.
Placement
Fire features need clearance from structures, overhangs, and fences, and local codes vary on setback distances and permissible fuel types. If you’re planning a fire feature alongside a patio or outdoor kitchen, it’s worth designing them together from the start rather than adding fire as an afterthought. Proper placement also affects how smoke and heat move through your seating area, which matters more than most people expect.
Materials
Natural stone, stacked block, and concrete are common choices for fire pit surrounds, and each brings a different look and price point. Matching your fire feature’s material to your patio, retaining walls, or kitchen island creates a cohesive space instead of a stand-alone accessory.
Extending the Season
Adding a fire feature near your outdoor seating area allows you to be outside well into November and sometimes December! Almost every client says the same thing after their first fall with a fire feature: they wish they’d added it sooner. Pairing your fire feature with some outdoor heaters or a covered structure, and “outdoor season” starts to feel like most of the year.
Fire has a way of turning a backyard into the place everyone wants to be. With the right planning, it doesn’t have to end when summer does.
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