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