<p>Planning on buying one for our patio this spring. Have checked out a few at Lowe’s and Target (online). Don’t want a tiny one, want something attractive looking. Looking at a couple that are about 34-37 inches I believe - not sure if I want square or round.</p>
<p>Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
Make sure it’s study and has a decent bottom half to stay balanced on the surface.</p>
<p>Have seen it is recommended to spray the insides with a Rustoleum product before use to prevent rusting from being outside, rain, etc. </p>
<p>Most come with a cover. I should specify - most come with a grate for the fire and a vinyl type cover for when not in use-winter. Some may have a ashes pan - others have bowls that lift out.</p>
<p>So what else should we consider? Height? Does a few inches matter higher or lower? I like the ones that I see that have a slate or stone border around the pit - any trouble or extra care with that?</p>
<p>Do not buy the kind with a tiled ring around it. The tiles look attractive when new, but on our firepit they only lasted for 2 years, then fell off one by one like fall leaves.</p>
<p>No, a fire pit is a unit that you burn firewood in and sit around(think contained campfire). Most people put them out on their patios and sit around and have drinks and conversation around them. They are great and really make a spring and or autumn night wonderfully cozy.</p>
<p>We use our fire pit all the time and have noticed that some of the tiles are falling off. Nice cosmetic touch but not so practical? I wish it had a flat cover so that we could use it as a psuedo coffee table when there is no fire. I have seen some (maybe at Target?) where the border is wide enough to hold plates/drinks; not sure how hot this area would get though. I suppose there is a wide range of prices and options, but it sure is a nice addition to our patio. We have had many nights gathered around the pit reading/talking/singing…good times.</p>
<p>We bought a nice fire pit/granite round table about three years ago (about 60" in diameter). It has a granite lid that goes on top of the fireplace that makes for plenty of room if you want to eat out on your patio. When we have a fire going and the lid is off, there’s about a 12" clearance from the edge of the fire pit to the edge of the table. One thing we’ve learned is that if you place something on that 12" ledge while you have a fire going on, it will get hot. So we no longer place our drinks (wine glass, beer, etc.) that we want to stay cool there. </p>
<p>Also, when you get the lower-to-the-ground table, understand that your chairs will most like not fit all the way under when not in use. I absolutely love our set (we got swivel, fabric chairs with arms that match colors in the granite), but not being able to store the chairs completely underneath the fire pit/table takes away surface space on your patio. However, we only ordered four chairs (and two chaises for by the pool), and now I’m wishing we’d ordered six. We have room to seat six around the fire pit, and there’s always a fight over who gets the swivels and who gets the cheap plastics.</p>
<p>We did have to special order it all from our pool store, though. This was after I shopped around at places that had items in stock. I just didn’t like what I saw, and feel this is more versatile… it’s a functional table and fire pit in one.</p>
<p>Costco had a SWEET gas firepit table (the high table) with the high chairs to go around it and plenty of “table” around the pit. My 12 year parked herself right on it and had me take a picture to send to “dad” to see if she could talk him into that. Needless to say, it was out of our budget.</p>
) & I would love to have a fire ring- [How</a> to Build a Fire Pit | Step-by-Step | Outdoor Structures | Landscaping | This Old House - Introduction](<a href=“
Needless to say, it was out of our budget.</p>