Questions a Fire Pit Contractor in Portsmouth, RI, Answers on Site, Not on Paper
Almost everything a fire pit contractor in Portsmouth, RI needs to know is decided by standing in the yard rather than by looking at a catalog. Where it goes, how the wind runs, and what the ground under it does through a New England winter are none of them visible in a product photograph.
A fire pit is rarely a standalone purchase on an Aquidneck Island property. It lands in a yard that already has a shape.
Premier Outdoor Group has been designing and building outdoor spaces on Aquidneck Island since 2007. We tie the patio, the pool and the yard together, because walkways, steps and built-in seating decide how a backyard flows, and a fire pit is one piece of that rather than an object placed into it.
Related: What an Outdoor Fireplace Adds to a New England Backyard That a Fire Pit Never Will
Where Does A Fire Pit Belong In A Yard That Already Has A Plan?
Somewhere with a reason to walk to it. A fire pit dropped in the middle of a lawn gets used twice a summer, because reaching it means crossing wet grass in the dark.
A fire pit at the end of a walkway, off the corner of a terrace, or set into a shallow dip with a seat wall behind it gets used because the route to it exists and the space around it already feels like a room. Our patios and pool decks work treats the pit and the surfaces leading to it as one problem rather than two.
Wind off the water changes that placement a great deal. A property near Narragansett Bay or the Sakonnet gets a reliable afternoon breeze in from the water, which is pleasant to sit in and unpleasant to sit downwind of.
Positioning the seating so the prevailing direction crosses the pit rather than carrying smoke straight into the main group solves most of it, and a low seat wall or dense planting on the exposed side does the rest.
What Goes Underneath, And How Much Room Do The Seats Need?
A compacted aggregate base, taken deep enough that the freeze-thaw cycle acts on the base rather than on the pit. Water that sits under a masonry surround and freezes will lift it, so drainage under and around the base matters as much as the depth.
On a fire pit built into a patio, the surround needs its own footing rather than sitting on the paving, since the two carry very different loads and settle at different rates.
Seating needs around three feet from the outer face of the surround to the front edge of the chairs, and enough behind them for someone to pass without turning sideways. For a pit four feet across, that puts the finished circle at eleven or twelve feet before anyone allows for a route through.
Built-in seat walls change the arithmetic, because they take less depth than furniture and hold their position. The number that matters is not the pit's diameter, it is the diameter of the space it needs.
Related: Choosing an Outdoor Living Contractor in Portsmouth, RI, for a Backyard Built Around Gathering
What Decides Between A Gas And A Wood-Burning Pit Here?
Use, mostly. Wood gives the fire people picture, and it asks for storage, ash removal and twenty minutes of attention before anyone sits down.
Gas lights in seconds, produces almost no smoke, and turns off when you go inside, which on a weeknight in October is the difference between using the yard and looking at it.
The build differs too: a gas pit needs a supply run and a burner pan set at the design stage, so the choice belongs early. Our design work for the whole backyard settles that alongside the rest of the layout.
Site The Fire Pit With The Rest Of The Yard
The most useful thing you can do before choosing a fire pit is have someone read the property with you: the wind, the routes people take, the grade, and what the pit would sit on. We will do that walk and come back with a complimentary design conversation about where it belongs and what it should be built on.
Premier Outdoor Group designs and builds outdoor living spaces across Portsmouth, Aquidneck Island and New England. Schedule a consultation to discuss your fire pit ideas.
In Summary
Does a fire pit need a permit in Rhode Island?
Requirements vary by municipality and by fuel type, and gas work brings its own inspection. We establish the position before construction begins so the answer is known rather than discovered.
How close can a fire pit sit to a pool?
Close is workable, provided the traffic pattern is planned first. The routes between the pool, the pit and the house should not cross, since wet feet and a fire sharing one walkway is the arrangement people regret.
How long does a masonry fire pit take to build?
The masonry itself is usually a short piece of work once the base is in. What sets the timeline is everything around it: the base, any gas supply, and the surfaces connecting it to the rest of the yard.
Related: A Smarter Approach to Backyard Design in Portsmouth, RI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A passion for the outdoors and the experience of working with his hands at a young age fostered the realization of Gairad DeCastro’s dream to start a top-rated design/build company on Aquidneck Island in 2007. His company has since grown from humble beginnings to a sought-after local pool contractor. Now, Premier Gunite Pools is recognized as a leader in providing creative, quality, and reliable inground pools. Gairad’s philosophy and mission statement remain simple: “If it’s worth doing, it's worth doing right.” His goal is to exceed every customer’s expectations for the amount of fun and relaxation they can have with a luxurious pool in their backyard.
