LIGHT MY fire
MAKE YOUR OUTSIDE AREA A COSY PLACE TO BE OVER THE WINTER MONTHS
Saying goodbye to the cult of the over-the-top outdoor fireplace is one of the easiest farewells of my life. I’ve never liked them – in fact, I have never really liked any sort of outdoor fireplace because you have to jostle the other guests to get close enough to be warm, you always have a hot front and a cold back, and then there’s the squadrons of mosquitoes mainlining your blood.
But I’m a bit smitten by the firepit. Yes, the mosquitoes still come uninvited to any event, but because you tend to sit around in a circle, everyone gets the same amount of heat. Only on their front, admittedly.
I’m not the only one who rather likes them. A survey of landscapers in the US a couple of years ago ranked the firepit as the most requested outdoor feature of the year, and they’ve evolved from a simple ring of stones at a campsite to smart, designer units that bring both heat and art to your outdoor living space.
I probably relate to the firepit ethos because they’re the perfect upcycle, recycle or repurpose DIY job. My investigations on the internet have revealed firepits made from stones, wheel rims, washing-machine bowls, coppers, concrete tubs and the bootlid of a Citroën Light 15. Alongside of those there are fabulous ready-to-wear models fuelled by gas or ethanol.
FIRE SAFETY
There are three major safety issues to bear in mind when you’re adding a firepit. One is that you don’t burn your guests to death, the next is that you don’t poison or asphyxiate them, and the third is that you don’t set your own or your neighbours’ property on fire.
Selecting an appropriate spot is the first step. No, not on the deck, not under the shade sail and not beneath an overhanging tree. Find a safe site that is level. If yours is a sloping section, dig out enough level space for your firepit and a surround of non-combustible material, such as pavers, gravel or stone chip.
If you’re burning wood, choose pieces that are seasoned. Softwoods tend to produce more sparks than hardwoods, and timber from left-over building projects may release toxic fumes.
When you’re getting sorted for an evening around the fire, don’t just take gear to get the fire going, but also to put it out if you need to. Keep fire gloves handy, as well as a bucket of sand to douse unwanted flames should there be an accident. If you’re the super-careful type, a hose with a nozzle set to the spray function or a fire extinguisher. They’re very easy precautions to take.
If you are executing a planned dousing of the fire, check the manufacturer’s instructions. A serious blast of cold water into a hot metal or ceramic pit could crack or damage it.
If you’re planning to invest serious money into an outdoor fire, weigh up the pros and
cons of a traditional fireplace or a firepit.
A FIREPLACE...
Can be a significant feature of your outdoor living area
Provides a sense of enclosure and blocks the wind
Gives privacy from neighbours Has a finite amount of room for guests to sit nearby – typically up to six people at a time, all facing the hearth
Is less conducive to conversation, with the people on the ends being able only to converse with their immediate neighbours
Is more costly than a firepit
May require building consents and inspections.
A FIREPIT...
Has expandable space and can warm more people at a time
Doesn’t provide much shelter from winds or privacy from neighbours
Is usually smaller than a traditional fireplace and can fit more easily into existing landscaping
Because it’s smaller and lower, it doesn’t impede views
Is less expensive than a traditional built-in fire
Is companionable – up to a dozen people can sit around in a circle, with the advantage that they are facing each other in a circle, making for easier conversation
Can be a creative DIY job.
THE LOOK
Rustic-style firepits are fun, easy and speedy to make, but if you have a smart, upmarket outdoor area, a ring of stones with a cauldron suspended over it is going to look out of place. You can buy ready-made firepits in dozens of different styles or you can commission a landscape designer to design and build something specifically for your space. Fire bowls made of precast concrete, stone or engineered stone are popular.
A firepit can be round, square, rectangular or irregularly shaped. If you plan to use it both as a way to warm your guests and as a landscape feature, you might opt for a long, narrow firepit that acts as a stylish addition to the space. It’s not quite as convivial as a circle but guests can sit along both sides.
Footnote: Even if your firepit is made from a wheel rim or a converted mudguard, don’t light it with petrol. Long matches are the go.