DIY: Build a Fire Pit With These Tips

Since the dawn of time, friends and families gathered around the fire company, eating, and entertaining. The patio and the garden turned into an outdoor theater as many people are searching for ways to put some flair back into their home. Their favorite choices have become outdoor fireplaces, fire bowl and fire pits for their outdoor spaces. However, not all types of outdoor fireplaces or fire pits will serve a home as well as the other. Here are a few tips for choosing outdoor fireplaces, fire bowls or fire pits:

• Consider your needs. Whenever you decide to buy, think about what things you want from an outdoor fireplace. Looking mainly for heat to expel the moisture in the evening so you or your family can enjoy the outdoors for the colder months?
• Every fire will smoke. Consider a chimney with a smoke stack that runs away from you.
• Iron eventually rusts. Even the finest of quality outdoor iron will do so. Make sure you do preventative maintenance. Using a fire pit cover is smart in this instance.
• Height matters. A fire pit on the ground or in it gives you the sensation of a real fire.
• What does portability mean to you? Having a portable fireplace is what life is all about. You can take a piece of home wherever you go but, at the same time, you can also bring nature to you.

With a little forethought to your intended use, you are able to select the perfect fire pit outdoor fire bowl or fire your needs.

The Varieties of Fire Pits

The huge variety of fire pit styles, prices, and sizes will amaze even the most seasoned veteran of the home amenities market. Whether you want to build your own fire pit or buy one, be sure to do a little bit of research about the types that are available. For homeowners who construct their own pits, the job is neither costly nor exceedingly tricky. For buyers, you can expect to discover a gigantic price differential between the cheapest and most expensive fire pit models. For more than 8,000 years, human beings have been enjoying the community bonding that is engendered by fire. The safest fire pits are topped with fire pit covers.

Wood-burning fire pits are great for cooking. Whether you want to prepare large or small food portions, wood is the way to go. Some wood pits even have rotisseries attached that let you get just the right result from your culinary expertise. Some aficionados claim that wood-cooked food tastes better than any other kind. Portable fire pits are similar to wood pits, but are typically set in huge metal dishes and mounted on wheeled frames for ease of movement. In either case, wood or portable, fire pit covers are an ideal way to enhance the safety of your new backyard appliance.

Among the most popular of all modern day fire pits are cast iron and copper models. Copper obviously costs more than cast iron, and has a shimmering, beautiful appearance. The price differential is justified due to copper’s fantastic look and its long life. Cast iron is not necessarily inferior, but does have a lower melting point than copper and a grainy exterior. Homeowners on a tight budget often opt for cast iron as a first foray into the world of fire pits.

Simple stone fire pits, also known as campfire pits, are probably the most oldest of all yard amenities. The ancients used the hole-in-the-ground system, where wood logs were set aflame and surrounded by large stones. With a bit of elbow grease and imagination, you can even build a makeshift cooking grate or spit to go over the campfire pit. Some users cook rather large portions on these pits, even entire animal carcasses in some cases.

Gas pits are the most convenient style on the market, featuring natural gas or propane as fuel, and obviously no ashes or mess to clean up. Fire pit purists might consider the gas pit a sacrilege, but the gas models are indeed popular with many homeowners. As you begin to search for your fire pit, don’t be shocked when you discover the enormous variety of models available.

Tips on What to Burn in Your Fire Pit

Autumn is here and time to fire up the fire pits! But what can and can't you burn in these trendy new additions to porches and backyards across the country? You don't want to lose the fun of having your own fire in your backyard, yet you want the event to be safe for all. Fear not, however, as we have some great tips to help you out. So whip off those fire pit covers and start grilling, cooking, or just enjoying warmth on a cold evening with these tips!

• Avoid burning solid matter. You don't know what kind of odors or fumes trash will put out when burned, or what you're going to inhale when you and your family and friends gather around the fire pit. 
• Only burn wood. It's safer and more reliable!
• Never burn wet wood. Gathering your own wood might sound like fun, but chances are it will be wet. Wet wood will cause enough smoke to water any eye, and make it impossible to cook anything over the fire pit.
• Choose your wood wisely. You will want cured or seasoned/dried wood. Either season it yourself or buy it done already. Also, be sure you know the difference between hardwood and soft wood. Hardwood burns longer and hotter, ideal for sitting around, while soft wood burns faster and at a lower temperature, making it ideal for cooking.
• Always use fire pit covers when the fire pit is not in use. This will prevent most things from getting inside, such as dirt and leaves, and keep your fire pit read for use!

So get that wood ready, strike up the matches, and bring on the marshmallows, because now is the time to enjoy your outdoor living space via the warmth and attraction a fire pit brings.

Things to Consider Before Buying Patio Furniture

Chances are, you own some patio furniture. And if you own furniture, you know that you have to take care of it in order to keep your furniture looking like new. One of the best ways to do this is to purchase as high a quality furniture as you can, right from the get go.

• Here are a few things to consider when you’re shopping for the furniture that will be gracing your outdoor living area:
• Have your budget in mind when you’re shopping. Purchase furniture as high a quality as you can afford..
• Keep in mind the type of weather your area of the country is faced with. Will you want furniture that can withstand a lot of rain and wind? High sunlight?
• Also look at what kind of wear and tear will your furniture will undergo. Will you be doing a lot of entertaining? Will your children be on and off the furniture regularly?
• Consider protecting your investment as well. Be sure to consider patio furniture covers as you look at sets.
• You’ll also want to know what type of “feel” you want for your backyard. Rustic? Contemporary? Modern? Do you want metal or wood patio furniture? Wicker or plastic framed?
• Look for furniture with sturdy frames that will help you make certain your investment will be with you for many seasons. The cushions you choose for the furniture are usually less expensive to replace and you can also spruce up the look of any furniture by simply slipping on new covers.
• If you have an outdoor living area, chances are you have a barbecue pit or barbecue grill. It’s important to purchase a barbecue grill cover as it will keep your grill from becoming rusted and from being continually exposed to the elements.

Taking care of your patio furniture by using patio furniture covers and periodic cleaning will help your furniture not only be serviceable whenever you need it, but also make your backyard (or front!) look great.

Why Should You Cook Over a Fire Pit?

Why should you consider cooking over a fire pit? Why not! Actually when you’re cooking over the open flame of a fire pit, your food gets that beautiful grill mark and flavor. Because some people are looking to simplify their lives, they are talking to landscape designers to have fire pits built in their backyard living areas. There is no reason to give up your gas grill when you have a fire pit constructed, but a fire pit does add a certain ambiance to your outdoor entertaining that you simply can’t get with grill cooking.

Fire pits, formerly known as charcoal cookers, began as charcoal structures typically made of metal with metal legs that could move from location to location in your yard. Today’s fire pits are permanent structures. Everyone knows that propane grills are fast lighting and heating and are convenient, but they don’t offer the delicious flavor that comes from cooking on the open flames of a fire pit.

Using a fire pit has been inspired by the myriad cooking shows that offer grilling ideas, not to mention that recipes are bountiful on the Internet. From brick and mortar styles with chimneys to open flamed table top type fire pits, you need to decide what kind of fire pit is best for your family’s needs. Regardless of the type of fire pit you decide on you will definitely want to purchase a fire pit cover. These fire pit covers keep dirt and debris from falling onto the rack and into the wood and charcoal. One of the good things you’ll find about cooking on a fire pit is that people tend to linger longer after the meal is over around the warmth of the fire pit – not many people linger around the warmth of a propane grill, do they?

The main difference from cooking on a gas grill to a fire pit is that it will definitely take longer to cook on a fire pit, but what you may give up in time you will make up for in the delicious flavor of the charcoal or wood over which you cook your meat, vegetables or even grilled fruits. Using various woods can add to the flavor of your mean – consider using cherry wood to cook salmon!

You can even consider having the kids cook hot dogs or roasting marshmallows over the fire pit – as long as adults are in strict attendance to keep them safe. You will also find that if your fire pit is constructed next to your swimming pool, you will add exponentially to your outdoor living enjoyment.

Why Choose Metal Patio Furniture

Considering buying patio furniture? Don’t discount metal! Not only is this material versatile but it is also durable, particularly when compared to leaving wood or plastic out in the elements. While patio furniture covers can increase the life span of any type of patio furniture, with metal, you get the unique combination of strength and portability in one package. Aluminum, in particular, is both durable and light enough to only need one person to rearrange the furniture.

Nothing compares to metal when it comes to holding up against the elements. No matter whether it’s wrought iron or aluminum, metal patio furniture is among the most durable of all accessories you can purchase for your home. Metal frames are also corrosion proof, so cleaning is easy. All you need to do is hose the furniture off and cover to protect it from additional dirt.

While steel and wrought iron options are not as light as aluminum, they do provide incredible durability. And don’t worry about color – even painted black metal can be spruced up with extremely colorful cushions and coverings. Whatever your taste, add a bit of accented hue to the backyard area with an array of color choices. There is no limit to the creative horizons.

Any garden can become a showplace with the addition of chairs, tables, umbrellas, fire pits, or just plain benches. The reasonable prices and wide availability of attractive metal garden furniture makes it a perfect choice for homeowners who value aesthetics and budget. And with patio furniture covers, you can protect your investment for years to come.

Cleaning Wood Patio Furniture

Consumers who care about value and economical living should seriously consider cleaning their wooden patio furniture rather than replacing it. Of course, if the cleaning job does not suffice, then perhaps you should consider buying new items. But be sure to try cleaning first, and you may find that you can save hundreds of dollars simply by doing a bit of scrubbing for a short period of time. If done properly, the cleaning job will have your old patio furniture looking fresh again.

1. Start the process with a dry brush, removing all the dust and dirt that has built up over the season. In addition, do not forget those cobwebs and scratches! If some of the dents or scrapes are deep, or especially disfiguring, take a bit of sandpaper and remove them.
2. Hose the furniture down. See to it that you remove any soil or grime that was left from the first step by using a good amount of water pressure.
3. Now you will need a clean cloth soaked in soapy water for the most important part of the cleaning regimen. Physically scrub off any remaining dirt, dust, or mold. In the case of mold, you might have to add a bit of bleach to some water and use a brush, making certain to rinse off the bleach solution after doing so.
4. Do a final rinse with the hose. You might want to use the pressure nozzle again, but don’t get too enthusiastic or you will damage the furniture. At this stage, you are both rinsing off the soap and blasting away any remaining dirt.
5. Wipe all surfaces down with a clean, dry, soft cloth. 
6. Put the furniture in the open air to finish drying. This last step also allows any bleach odor to evaporate.
7. Finally, you can add oil or a stain to the furniture to ready it for the next season.

For the future, patio furniture covers and patio chair covers are a good choice for those who care about the long-term health and durability of their garden furniture. Besides protecting them from the elements, the covers add a sense of style to your yard and can help reduce the amount of deep cleaning needed for your furniture.