Choosing Your Fire Pit Style

In-Ground Pits

Sleek and modern, sitting flush with the patio. But they need serious drainage — an in-ground pit is a bowl, and bowls collect water.

Above-Ground Pits

The classic: a ring of block with a cap. Easier to build, easier to fix later. This is what we build most, and it suits Colorado's freeze-thaw best.

Manufacturer Kits

Pre-cut block systems cost more but go up fast and look sharp. Great if you want a guaranteed fit without cutting curves yourself.

Pick Your Fuel First

Wood burning gives you the crackle and the smoke. Gas gives you a switch and no cleanup. Decide fuel before block, because gas needs a line stubbed up before the walls go up.

Pro tips from the field

• If you're on the fence about gas, run the sleeve for a gas line during the build even if you start wood-burning. Retrofitting costs 5x more.
• Match your cap stone to your patio border. It's the detail that makes the whole backyard look designed instead of assembled.
• Smokeless insert designs exist for wood pits and genuinely cut smoke — worth it if neighbors are close.