Fire Features

The Reason Your Backyard Stays Open Through October

Boulder fire pits, gas fire bowls, full masonry outdoor fireplaces.
Custom-built for Hartford County backyards from May through November and beyond.

Call (860) 200-3506

Why Fire Features Extend Your Backyard by Two Months a Year

September, October and early November are the most beautiful weeks of the Connecticut year. They’re also the weeks most homeowners spend exclusively indoors. The days get short, the temperature drops at sundown, and the patio sits empty.

A fire feature changes that. With a real heat source on the patio, sunset becomes the start of the evening instead of the end of it. Halloween becomes a backyard gathering. Thanksgiving guests end up outside with drinks. The shoulder seasons stop being lost time.

The other side of this: a fire feature adds drama to summer entertaining that nothing else matches. Conversations happen around fire. Drinks taste better around fire. Kids who would otherwise be on screens want to be near it. It’s the element that makes a backyard memorable instead of just nice.

What we build

Boulder fire pits

The most popular fire feature we install. A circle of large Connecticut fieldstones, hand-set around a steel fire ring, with a gravel or paver inset at the center. Wood-burning. Looks like it was placed there by hand, because it was.

Boulder fire pits anchor the corner of a patio beautifully. They work with almost any architecture from contemporary to traditional. They cost less than gas alternatives. And they’re the most flexible: you can roast marshmallows, you can cook on a grate, you can have a real fire on a cold night with friends.
Diameter matters. Too small and people sit too close. Too large and the fire feels far away. We typically build between four and six feet across, sized to the patio they’re anchored to.

Gas fire bowls and fire tables

For cleaner contemporary aesthetics or for homeowners who don’t want to carry firewood, we install gas-fed fire bowls and fire tables. These run on either propane (from a hidden tank in a designated enclosure) or natural gas (run from an existing house line).

We use Hearth Products Controls and HPC Fire Inspired components for the burners and ignition systems. These are commercial-grade units with built-in safety shutoffs, electronic ignition, and the kind of reliability that means you flip a switch and the fire comes on every time. Cheap gas inserts you find at big-box stores typically last two or three years before the ignition fails. The commercial-grade systems we install last fifteen-plus.

Built-in masonry outdoor fireplaces

For the most dramatic installations, we build full masonry outdoor fireplaces anchored to a wall or freestanding at the edge of a patio. These run from six to twelve feet tall, with a real firebox, a real chimney, and the architectural presence of an indoor fireplace built outside.

Outdoor fireplaces become the focal point of the whole backyard. They double the season of usable outdoor time. They add the kind of value to a property that shows up at resale. They’re the most expensive fire feature option, but for the right backyard they’re worth every dollar.

Built-in propane lines under existing patios

For clients who already have a patio and want to add a portable gas fire feature, we install propane lines under existing hardscape connecting to a hidden tank enclosure at the side of the house. This lets you use a portable gas fire bowl or fire table without dealing with refilling small tanks or running an unsightly hose across the patio.

How we build fire features that don’t fail

Fire pits

The base under a boulder fire pit needs to drain. Water collecting under the fire ring during winter freezes, expands, and over time pushes the stones out of place. We excavate, install a gravel base with proper drainage, set a steel fire ring with adequate airflow at the bottom, and place the boulders so they sit on a solid platform that won’t shift seasonally.

The steel ring matters too. Cheap stamped rings warp within two years from the heat. We use heavy-gauge fire rings designed for permanent installation.

Gas features

Gas installation requires a licensed plumber for the gas line work. We coordinate with a plumber we’ve worked with for years. Lines are pressure-tested before they’re buried. Shut-off valves go in accessible locations. The propane tank enclosure meets local code for setbacks and ventilation. The electronic ignition system gets tested under load before we leave the job.

Masonry fireplaces

Real masonry fireplaces require a real footing. We pour a reinforced concrete footing below the frost line, build the structure in concrete block, then face it in stone or brick to match the house. The firebox uses high-temperature firebrick. The flue meets code for draft. The chimney cap keeps weather out without blocking airflow.

What it costs

  • $3,500 to $6,500: Boulder fire pit, hand-set, integrated into existing patio or gravel pad
  • $6,500 to $12,000: Larger boulder fire pit with surrounding seating wall, integrated lighting
  • $8,000 to $15,000: Gas fire bowl or fire table installation including propane line and tank enclosure
  • $15,000 to $28,000: Built-in masonry outdoor fireplace with chimney, integrated into patio design
  • $28,000+: Larger fireplace installations with built-in seating walls, wood storage, and integrated outdoor kitchen

Common Questions
About Fire Features

Both have their place. Wood gives you the real fire experience: the smell, the sound, the cooking option. Gas gives you the convenience: flip a switch and you have flame in thirty seconds, with no smoke, no ash, no firewood to store. Most clients we work with end up choosing based on how often they think they’ll actually use it. If you’ll use it once a week, gas wins. If you’ll use it twice a season, wood wins.

Most municipalities in Hartford County don’t require permits for residential boulder fire pits or freestanding fire bowls. Gas line installations require permits and a licensed plumber. Built-in masonry fireplaces typically require building permits. We handle the permit applications as part of the project when they apply.

Manufacturer specifications and local code typically require at least ten feet of clearance from any structure for wood-burning features, and varying clearances for gas features depending on the BTU output. We design the location to meet code and look right in the space.

Yes, in most cases. For wood-burning fire pits we may need to remove a section of patio and install proper drainage underneath. For gas features we need to run a gas line, which may involve cutting and reinstalling some pavers. We discuss the specifics during the property walk.

A boulder fire pit takes 2-3 days. A gas fire bowl with line installation takes 5-7 days including plumber coordination. A built-in masonry fireplace takes 3-4 weeks because of the masonry work and curing time.

Want a fire feature in your backyard this season?

Call John. Ten minutes. He’ll help you figure out which option fits.
Call (860) 200-3506