| It's tough giving up a summer of spending leisurely | | | | Portable Fire pits: Portable fire pits have increased in |
| evenings on the patio, winding down under the stars. | | | | popularity, especially now that outdoor living spaces |
| Fire pits are a great way to extend the outdoor use | | | | have become so fashionable. They are available in a |
| of your yard or patio, as well as creating a laid back, | | | | variety of different sizes, and the price starts at |
| relaxing atmosphere. They can be as extravagant as | | | | about $120, going up from there. Generally, they are |
| a bulky, stone wood burner or as delicate as a | | | | made of steel, copper or the chimineas; a Mexican |
| ceramic fire pot for your patio table. They've come a | | | | style made from fired clay or cast iron. |
| long way from the campfire pits, enjoyed by those | | | | The fire table top, where you have a large bowl |
| with large, backyards. Now, just about any home can | | | | inserted into a table, can be fueled by propane or |
| safely install a fire pit and the choices are endless; | | | | natural gas, allowing for seating around the fire. The |
| here are some things to look for: | | | | tops are usually made of a glass fiber reinforced |
| The In ground Fire Pit: This is the wood-burning, | | | | concrete. Some of them even convert into an ice |
| marshmallow eating version; usually surrounded by a | | | | chest and grill. |
| brick or stone ledge and dug into the ground. This is | | | | Some units such as the table top burners or the glass |
| a great way to enjoy a fire, but you have to have | | | | enclosed luminariums use ethanol as a fuel which |
| the space to locate it away from the house or dry | | | | provides the look and feel of a wood fire without |
| vegetation. | | | | the smoke or ash. |
| The Above ground Fire Pit: Almost the same as | | | | Safety: In all situations, research your local fire |
| above, except it can be built into a stone or cement | | | | regulations, whether the portable versions are |
| patio; the actual pit is elevated, allowing your feet to | | | | allowed on a wooden deck, the guidelines for building |
| rest on the ledge and sit closer to the heat. The only | | | | a fire pit and whether you'll require a permit. It needs |
| digging involved is for the trench for the footings, | | | | to be situated well away from the house, |
| and the bed is lined with gravel. When deciding on the | | | | overhanging trees, power lines or other structures. |
| size of the circle, imagine the size of fire you want to | | | | It's good practice to use a spark screen and never |
| build. A small ring limits the size of the logs you'll be | | | | leave a fire unattended. A fire extinguisher or garden |
| burning, a larger ring will allow for a larger fire, but | | | | hose should be kept nearby. |
| you may have to sit further back. A good | | | | Burn compressed logs or wood with a low resin |
| recommendation is an interior diameter a minimum of | | | | content, using only 1 or 2 at a time, in a portable fire |
| 3 feet with walls about 12 inches thick and 12 to 18 | | | | pit. |
| inches high. | | | | |