Come on baby, light my fire

The four elements, earth, water, air and fire, stimulate our senses. In an indoor setting, the flicker of a flame from candlelight or a fireplace evokes an atmosphere of intimacy, setting the mood for relaxation. In the outdoor setting, a wood-burning fire beckons us to connect with a natural world that as urbanites we are at risk of becoming more and more removed from.

In suburbia the close proximity to neighbouring houses on all sides discourages the notion of a roaring backyard fire with its attendant flames, sparks, and billowing plumes of smoke. Yet, incorporating the element of fire into our urban spaces has never been easier with table top fire pits or contemporary bowls. These new, modern versions of the outdoor fire pit, equipped with kits that easily convert to natural gas or propane, are functional and user friendly. In terms of aesthetics, they come in forms and shapes as sleek or rustic as the homeowner’s discerning taste and personal style demands.

Phil Squarie, president of Wicker World Home and Patio on McPhillips as well as the new Luxe Barbeque Company on Kenaston, says that demand for table top fire pits has seen a significant increase in the last three to five years. For approximately every ten patio sets that are sold, Squarie says that he sells five table top fire pits. Even when the fire is turned on, the outer rim serves as a table. During the daytime, especially if it is hot and humid, stylish covers or lids, including swivel Lazy Susan’s, convert gas fire pits into full tables for beverages and hors d’oeuvres.

The popularity of the outdoor living room concept is at an all-time high. Expressing your unique sense of style involves coordinating furnishings and accessories so that colours and materials tie spaces together and complement your home’s exterior. Choose from a range of materials that include tiles, granite, and faux wood or marble. Finishes resembling driftwood are popular but vibrant colours such as blue, red, and green are also available. Currently, the most popular colours, says Squarie, are earthy tones in chocolate and charcoal.

To accommodate your entertaining style, fire pit tables may be round, square or rectangle and come in different heights including coffee table, chat, pub, or dining table heights. One model, sold by Squarie, is a rectangular dining room table with a fire feature running down the middle and is large enough to accommodate space for six to eight guests.

It’s important, says Squarie, for homeowners to purchase from a supplier that can also offer replacement parts and service. Gas valves, stainless steel burners or other parts may need replacing at some point or surface areas that have rusted may need restoration. When purchasing a table top with a tiled surface, for example, ensure that the grout is resistant to damage from freezing temperatures and impervious to moisture penetration. Once moisture seeps into the grout, says Squarie, it begins to disintegrate.

Prior to purchasing, ask to see the flame intensity. Squarie says that the burners on some products may be so underpowered that the flame is a mere seven to thirteen centimetres above the fire pit glass crystals or rocks. Generally this type of output occurs in lower-priced units with 15,000 to 20,000 BTU. Fire pit tables that emit a heat output of 40,000 BTU or more produce an impressive 30 to 36 cm flame.

Accessories such as a glass fire shield add a layer of protection for children and protect flames from the effects of wind. The flick of a switch or turn of a key extinguishes flames quickly. Prices for quality models start at about $1,200.

Read the warranty and check to see when it begins and when it ends, says Squarie. Should you roast marshmallows over your new fire pit table? It’s possible, says Squarie, but could get messy.

Artisanal fire pit makers abound and many make their unique products available online. Solus Decor, for example, is based in British Columbia and ships its distinctively contemporary natural gas or liquid propane fire pits to customers across Canada and the United States. In business for the past 20 years, the company was started in a garage in Vancouver with a mallet, a wheelbarrow and a few trowels, says Tanya Salas, design director and resident mold specialist.

Formed from fibre-reinforced concrete, Salas says that their goal is to keep things as simple as possible so that designs are elegant and modern and will fit into any well-considered environment, whether traditional or minimalist. Concrete, says Salas, is a fluid material that can be molded into any shape. It is also durable with a visual weight that makes it authentic, says Salas. "It feels like something real and substantial that is anchored in an outdoor space."

Product names are also minimalist. The hemi, for instance, is literally half of a sphere. Another product, called halo, is named for the ring of light that reflects on the centre of the smooth, polished concrete.

Solus Decor’s products start at $2,000 and weigh as much as 113 to 136 kgs – comparable to a medium size boulder -- yet are relatively affordable to ship (about $200). Salas says that the fire pit tables are meant to last a lifetime. That said, they do need to be covered when they are not in use and it is important to ensure that drainage holes are free flowing.

Would you want to sit around a fire pit on a smoking hot day? You may enjoy the aesthetics of a fire but these products do give off quite a lot of heat, says Salas, who also sells wooden Ipe (pronounced e-pay) covers that transform the fire pit into a functional table top.

If the use of propane or natural gas simply isn’t compatible with your vision of an outdoor fire feature, Cliff Pinder may have just what you are looking for. The owner of Firewood Manitoba, a supplier of firewood for fire pits, wood stoves, and fireplaces, Pinder produces wood burning fire bowls made from steel. With a thickness of just over six millimeters, his rustic fire bowls weigh 68 to 80 kg. These are meant for a good old fashioned bonfire.

Pinder says that his clients like the aesthetics of the fire bowls he creates, particularly the patina of rusty steel. Some even purchase them to use as planters. Others continue to cook over them in winter. Basic care is all that is needed, says Pinder, such as ensuring that drainage holes are not obstructed. Pinder is now working on creating a type of grill similar to a Teppanyaki grill. Teppanyaki, he says, is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle similar to what diners enjoy at Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar on Carleton Street. For dining over the long weekend, Pinder shares a favourite recipe, fire roasted corn on the cob.

Todd Braun, eminent stone carver who works and lives just outside of Altona, crafted a granite boulder fire ring for a client in Kleefeld. Made of thick, fitted, naturally flat topped granite boulders that have been sunk into the ground, this dramatic circular fire ring with a sunken hearth measures 3.6 meters in diameter. Some of the pieces, says Braun, weigh more than 136 kgs each. Braun spent more than 100 hours creating the fire ring.

Whatever style you choose, safety should be paramount. A spark arrestor, grille or mesh with openings no larger than 12 mm must cover the entire area of an approved receptacle on a residential property. For full details visit Community Services at www.winnipeg.ca.

colleenizacharias@gmail.com

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