Outdoor living spaces have become a must-have for homeowners, and for a good reason – they offer an escape from the day-to-day grind and provide a relaxing environment to gather with family and friends. As the weather gets cooler, many people start to think about adding a fire source for the patio area. Adding a firepit or fireplace can extend your season into chilly evenings of Fall. When we are in the designing phase of an outdoor living area, we always get the question “gas or natural burning?”. They both have their pros and cons.
GAS
PROS
- Gas firepits/fireplaces are very clean burning. You will not get no burning smell, debris in the air and ash to regularly cleanup.
- Gas is more convenient to use. Some of the least expensive units include turning on the gas and lighting it with a match. Mid-grade units include a spark starter. High-end units are electronic and can often be started with an app on your device.
- No need to source firewood. Just pay your natural gas or propane bill.
CONS
- Definitely the more expensive route on two folds. First, you will need a burner to produce the warmth. Simple match lit burners can be as low as $600 where high-BTU units with electronic ignition and fire logs can run in excess of $5,000.
- Secondly, gas lines must be installed in the ground and attached to your meter or other existing gas line from your home or pool. Depending on length, difficulty and availability of licensed mechanical contractor’s installation can run into several thousands of dollars. Sometimes your gas meter needs to be updated to handle the additional draw. Of course, both of these costs do NOT include the structure that they sit in.
- Usually not recommended for cooking or roasting marsh mellows.
NATURAL
PROS
- Lower cost than gas. Inexpensive, portable firepits can be purchased from big-box store for a $100. Built-in, masonry units can run a few thousand or more depending on size, material and installation costs.
- Natural burning firepits and fireplaces just bring an ambience to the evening where gas cannot.
- Cooking and roasting marsh mellows cannot be duplicated.
CONS
- Definitely dirtier than gas
- Cutting or buying firewood, plus storing.
- Can be difficult to get started, but can be made easy with a gas firestarter unit.
