Crushed rock, sand, or concrete slab can be the best bases for the pit. Sand is a natural heat barrier that is readily available. Placing your fire pit on concrete pavers or patio slabs is a lovely idea. Concrete is robust and substantial enough to provide stability.
Additionally, crushed rocks offer a strong substrate for a wood fire and can be used in permanent or portable fire pits. Choose a fire-resistant hard rock, such as granite, marble, or slate.
What is the Best Base for Permanent Fire Pits?
Sand is the best base for a permanent or established fire pit. This readily available fire-proof material is excellent in heat absorbing and can be easily cleaned. Start by putting sand in the bottom of the hole. On top of the sand, you can put gravel, lava rocks, fire pit glass, paving stones, or even bricks. However, if you want another option, the crushed rock is acceptable.
What is the Best Base for Portable Fire Pits?
The best base for portable fire pits is lava rocks. Lava rock is porous and looks like a sponge that has hardened, which are both good things. They are made of molten rock from volcanoes and can move heat. Also, it is pretty cheap and good for the environment. The best thing about them is that most of them are made for fire pits.
If you want to burn wood:
- Apply a layer of lava rock at least 4-5 inches thick.
- Put the firewood on top of the lava rock.
Fill the fire pit with enough lava rock to at least cover the fire ring if you have a gas fire.
Things You Can Put Under Your Fire Pit
Protecting your yard grass or decking from the fire pit requires a barrier. Some may wish to install the fire pit on a green lawn, while others may put it on a concrete patio. And therefore, we will discuss several scenarios and the best tools to employ in the case of concrete slabs, grass or ground and decking.
What to Put When Placing the Fire Pit on Wood Decking
Using a fire pit on a composite or wooden deck poses risks. A wooden deck may serve as a means for the fire you are trying to ignite. You should never use fire pits directly over a decking; putting something under the fire pit is a must. Composite decking may be flammable; however, fire-resistant varieties exist. It is better to check the fire-resistance grade before placing a fire pit on composite decking.
For your decking, put these simple alternatives under the fire pit:
Using Sand:
Spread a fine layer of sand around your fire pit to increase the isolation of your wood deck. Sand safeguards your wooden floor by absorbing and distributing heat evenly.
Heat protective pad:
Heat pads are highly user-friendly and may be folded when not in use. In addition, they serve as a separation between the deck and the fire pit.
Tiles for landscaping:
These tiles may be used as permanent flooring and heat-resistant surfaces to protect your hardwood deck.
What to Put Under the Fire Pit When Placing the Fire Pit on a Concrete Base
Concrete can crack or explode if it is not protected from high heat. So, the following items can be used beneath a fire pit on a concrete base:
Fire Bricks:
Install the concrete pavers or fire bricks between the fire pit and the concrete patio floor. To take it a step further, stack them with small gaps, providing more ventilation and a place for heat to escape.
Sand:
Under the fire pit, a heavy layer of sand can be placed. This sand thickness is influenced by the quality of your firepit and the type of concrete flooring you have. In this aspect, sealed concrete may require a thinner covering than a polished concrete block.
Crushed rocks:
Finely crushed rocks are also good at absorbing heat; you can get them on the market in different colors.
What to Use When Placing the Fire Pit on Grass or Ground
Before putting a fire pit on the grass or garden ground, consider the following factors: heat damage and ignition. They are the two most important variables before placing a fire pit directly on the grass.
The fire protective mat or pad:
This pad keeps embers from falling on your grass and keeps the grass safe from the heat. In addition, you can protect the grass below from the heat by putting your fire pit on a pedestal.
Sand:
Putting sand under your fire pit helps spread the heat and keeps the grass free from heat damage.
Marble:
If you want a base that will stay in place for a while, marble, slate, and granite may be good choices. Since these things are thick, they are less likely to crack or blow up when heated.
3 Things You Should Not Put Under Your Fire Pit
Knowing what you should not put under the fire pit is essential because many people end up with fire pits that tip over or start fires because they put something there that they should not have.
Rug or carpet:
Never put a fire pit made of wood on a rug. If the flame or logs of wood around your fire pit give off too much heat, the outdoor carpet could catch fire.
River or wet rocks:
You can put river rocks or pea gravel under the fire pits as a barrier between the ground and the fire pit, but remember that river rocks have more water and moisture than normal gravels or pebbles. Therefore, when exposed to high heat, river rocks can explode.
Plastic structure:
Do not put the fire pit on top of any plastic furniture. Even if you use a heating pad, the plastic will melt or be damaged.
Do I Need a Pad or Mat Under My Fire Pit?
Yes, so that the heat from the fire pit does not damage the ground or deck. Fire pit mats are sheets that can withstand heat and come in various shapes and sizes. You can buy a fire pit mat at the store. Make sure to get one that meets USFS fire blanket regulations. Putting a fire pit mat or pad down is a great way to keep the deck and house safe from fire disasters.
How Big Should My Fire Pit Mat Be?
Most fire pit mats are made of fire-resistant fabric, PVC, or rubber and range in size from 30″ x 48″ to 36″ x 48″ for rectangular mats and 24″ to 36″ in diameter for round rugs.
Is It Safe to Put a Carpet or an Outdoor Rug Under a Fire Pit?
No, You should never put a fire pit made of wood on an outdoor rug because it is dangerous and could hurt you. If the flame or logs of wood around your fire pit give off too much heat, the outdoor carpet could catch fire. However, there are some fire-resistant rugs or carpets; if you buy one, it is OK to have one under a fire pit.
What Is the Best Surface to Put a Fire Pit On?
The best surface should always go to the concrete slab or patio. Putting your fire pit on concrete pavers or patio slabs is a great idea. Concrete is strong and stable enough to last for a long time. Placing the fire pit on grass or a deck will damage the surface and make it more likely to catch fire. But concrete slabs won’t catch fire easily. Instead, they can handle heat much better than grass or a deck. It will also make the backyard and garden a focal point.
What Is the Best Material to Put Under a Fire Pit?
A heat protective mat or pad is best to put under a fire pit. Fire pits get very hot, and exposing decking and grass to that kind of heat over and over again can cause them to break down and leave ghost spots. Sparks and embers can also damage the decking by making it hot or black and possibly starting a fire.
Because of this, you have to use a fire pit pad, this keeps the wood decking from falling into the fire pit. Fire pit mats are inexpensive barriers usually made of rubber or PVC and are easy to store when they are not used. Always check the instructions from the manufacturer.
You can check out detailed article on what to put under a fire pit and what not here.
