Outdoor Fire Pit Buying Guide – Features & Accessories

These bits of tempered glass come in many colors and are typically used to obscure gas and ethanol burners as well as control the flame. They may be smooth and rounded like pebbles or jagged like chipped ice with a relatively uniform size. The glass reflects the light of the flames, creating a glow and pleasant ambiance that draws attention to the fire. Change the color of the fire glass throughout the year to create different moods or coordinate with your decor.

These rugged pieces of porous volcanic rock protect burners from the elements, help maintain an even flame and provide a natural-looking aesthetic. Due to their organic nature, lava rock pieces come in different sizes. They’re sold with natural uneven surface contours or tumbled for a smooth appearance. Lava rocks vary in color and may be found in shades of black, grey, brown and red. They’re low maintenance, last a few years and are typically less expensive than fire glass.

Despite the name, these are not rocks at all. River rocks that are found in nature are porous and may explode when heated and cooled. Fire pit river rocks are typically made from volcanic basalt or ceramic material and can safely withstand high temperatures. They are colored and shaped to mimic the smooth rocks found in rivers and streams. Fire pit river rocks are typically used in gas fire bowls or to outline ethanol burners. They retain heat even after a burner is turned off.

These artificial pieces range from realistic ceramic facsimiles to minimalist metal cylinders to sit in the fire or alongside. Unlike the real thing, there is no smoke, sparks or mess. Like other decorative media, faux logs protect the burner and provide shielding from the wind. Steel and other metal versions radiate heat, providing additional warmth in the cold. Faux wood logs can give fire pits a campfire feel and are often combined with lava rocks.

Grates are metal trays that sit beneath kindling and logs to improve the airflow needed to start and maintain a roaring fire. Built-in fireplaces may have substantial legged versions, while firepits or chimineas may simply have a thin slatted tray that sits on a ledge. An andiron is a metal support that helps to hold logs in place above the floor for airflow and they usually come in pairs. Some are very decorative and add subtle style to a hearth.

These long metal rods (a.k.a. fire irons) are used to stoke the fire by moving wood and coals around. They often have a barbed side for hooking logs and rolling them over. You can usually purchase a fire pit tool set with a poker, scissored tongs for grasping logs, a long-handled brush and a dustpan for ashes. It helps to have a rack for the set that mounts to a nearby wall or sits on the ground.

 These toughened glass or metal barriers prevent embers and sparks from flying out and stray items from falling into the flames. Transparent tempered glass windscreens are ideal for fire pit tables where the ambiance of the flame is as important as the warmth it gives off. Metallic mesh covers are best for larger wood-burning fire pits with less control over the flame. They should have handles for safely removing it to stoke the fire and adjust the wood.