Fire pits require special considerations

Q: A neighbor and his wife got into a big fight about their outdoor deck and fire pit. I couldn’t help but overhear. The husband thought he was building the deck a good size with the fire pit in the center of the deck. The wife told him it was all wrong. Long story short, the wife was right and now he’s tearing it apart. Can you share some tips about building an outdoor fire pit? What are the top things to consider, especially if it’s going to be part of a wood deck? — Ron S., Seymour, Indiana

A: It just so happens fire pits are a minor hobby of mine. I’ve built several and sat around many. Here are a few key ideas to consider.

First, think about any view beyond the fire pit. It’s not always going to be pitch dark when a fire is roaring, so make the view beyond something nice if possible. Believe it or not, when I sit at my own fire pit my back is turned to the third largest lake in New Hampshire. The idiot who built my fire pit (not me!) has you looking away from the lake.

Second, it’s important to consider prevailing winds. You don’t want everyone rubbing their eyes or dodging flying embers.

Third, think about how hot fires get. If you have a roaring fire, you often can’t be any closer than 4 or 5 feet to the edge of the fire or you will roast. This means that the seating area needs to be at least 10 feet deep from the edge of the fire pit.

I would create a masonry hearth around the fire pit that’s at least 18 inches deep. You want no wood or decking within 18 inches of the edge of the fire pit. Your local code may call for a greater distance, so refer to it for guidance.

Think about leaf debris and anything else that’s combustible that could accumulate near or around the fire pit. Keep an 8-foot ring of safety, possibly more. If you can afford it and are willing to do the work, I’d run a seasonal water line, even if it’s just a great garden hose in an underground conduit pipe, in case something goes wrong.

The diameter of the fire pit should be no less than 3 feet, and 5 feet is more than enough. Ring it with stone or other fireproof material. The height of the stone should be about 1 foot above the ground level where you stack the wood that will make the fire.

As crazy as this sounds, it’s always best to build a test fire where you think you’ll have the fire pit. Make the fire as large as you normally would have it. See how close you can comfortably sit. Use string to outline how much space you want behind the chairs. This simple test will ensure you build the best fire pit and the perfect deck or patio to surround it.