akdiesel
Well-known member
I talked with the wife as to which fire system we wanted to have on our back patio. I was originally going to build an outdoor fire place but talking with her the fire place would on be view able from the front and back sides. So we came up with the idea of a fire pit. We saw one at the Alyeska Prince lodge in Girdwood that struck our attention, so we decided on that style.
So this is what I came up with. It took about total time of two weeks to finish, and that was about 5 days of cure time for the cement topper. Total cost was about $600 and most of that was due to the rock facia.
It runs off of natural gas on a 3/4" line that is necked down to a 1/2" gas valve that produces about 180,000 btu. I was going to go with the 3/4" with 300,000 btu but the 1/2" does just fine. The valve feeds a 1/2" stainless tubing that I bent in a rectangular continuous loop shape that has 1/8" holes every 2". The tube is 48" x 8" loop. I decided to use lava rock since the glass rock would be approx $900 for the amount I needed and that was not including shipping, ouch!
One word of caution when using lava rock. The rock is porous and the heat from the fire will expand the air pockets so that they will pop. Turn the heat up to get rid of those rocks that will pop for about an hour or two. It is entertaining none the less.
The facia is real rock that stacks like a Tetris game piece and I decided to attach it with cement adhesive instead of mortar since it is outside and the heat and cold contacting movement will eliminate failure.
The cement topper is 10" wide and has a 2" over hang out the outside edge. It is 2" this with wire mesh inbeded, polished and stained to match the facia.
That was my first attempt at a concrete topper. I love working with concrete in manageable sizes.
The wife, I, and the neighbors can now sit by the fire outside with our drinks and not be bothered by smoke.
I made another one same style but 8" shorter (64" x 32" outside dimensions) but I used propane for his since it is at the cabin and no NG available.
So this is what I came up with. It took about total time of two weeks to finish, and that was about 5 days of cure time for the cement topper. Total cost was about $600 and most of that was due to the rock facia.
It runs off of natural gas on a 3/4" line that is necked down to a 1/2" gas valve that produces about 180,000 btu. I was going to go with the 3/4" with 300,000 btu but the 1/2" does just fine. The valve feeds a 1/2" stainless tubing that I bent in a rectangular continuous loop shape that has 1/8" holes every 2". The tube is 48" x 8" loop. I decided to use lava rock since the glass rock would be approx $900 for the amount I needed and that was not including shipping, ouch!
One word of caution when using lava rock. The rock is porous and the heat from the fire will expand the air pockets so that they will pop. Turn the heat up to get rid of those rocks that will pop for about an hour or two. It is entertaining none the less.
The facia is real rock that stacks like a Tetris game piece and I decided to attach it with cement adhesive instead of mortar since it is outside and the heat and cold contacting movement will eliminate failure.
The cement topper is 10" wide and has a 2" over hang out the outside edge. It is 2" this with wire mesh inbeded, polished and stained to match the facia.
That was my first attempt at a concrete topper. I love working with concrete in manageable sizes.
The wife, I, and the neighbors can now sit by the fire outside with our drinks and not be bothered by smoke.
I made another one same style but 8" shorter (64" x 32" outside dimensions) but I used propane for his since it is at the cabin and no NG available.
![IMG_1803[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/178/178496-d05fe979210793c03514a0303d53c482.jpg)
