Arun Kumar Shrivastav
Your metal fire pit is an exciting thing in your home that comes alive every time you feel the need for a little more indulgence and pampering. It’s strong, stylish, and portable, too. Occasionally, you will like to add more attractions to your metal fire pit. For example, you must have considered what to put in the bottom of the metal fire pit, haven’t you?
Your metal fire pit also has a utilitarian side. You can cook a hearty barbeque on its glowing heat or simply collect wood ash and use it in the garden as fertilizer. Does this give you a hint as to what should go to the bottom of the fire pit?
Well, it is going to be your call because there are quite a few materials that are used in the fire pit. They all have their pros and cons but they are safe and efficient nonetheless. Sand, dust, gravel, lava rock, and fire pit glass are some of the most common materials used in fire pits. You can choose any of these materials to line the base of your metal fire pit.
These materials are safe and will serve the purpose for which you are going to use them. That said, we presume your intention is to provide a layer of protection from excessive heat to the bottom of your metal fire pit. But using different materials to add style and aesthetics to the fire pit is also very common.
But let’s get the most common material used in metal fire pits out of our way so we can consider the remaining of them. Yes, I am talking about Sand!
Sand
Sand is the most common material used in a metal fire pit. It’s a natural and inexpensive product. It efficiently protects the bottom of the metal fire pit from excessive heat. Besides, it also distributes the heat more evenly in the fire pit, giving you a more balanced body of fire. Sand is something that most people are familiar with.
On the downside, the sand may interfere with or even block the airway of the fire pit. Since proper air-circulation and the supply of oxygen are necessary for the fire to thrive, the blockage of the airway is not an ideal situation.
However, sometimes, you may want a fire that’s not all flames but a slow and subdued version of it. In such cases, you can use sand in your metal fire pit in a way that it blocks the airway and prevents optimal air circulation.
Using sand as the lining for the bottom of your fire pit may also obfuscate your objective of using the wood-ash in your garden.
Lava Rocks
After we have considered Sand, the next most exciting material is lava rocks. These volcanic rocks are extremely heat-resistant and stable in extreme temperatures. They distribute the heat evenly and don’t explode. Do you know why? They are part of the volcanic magma. Because of these qualities, lava rocks have been traditionally used as the base of fire pits.
However, to use lava rocks to line the base of the metal fire pit provides maximum protection to the bottom of the fire pit. Lava rocks radiate the heat as well as absorb it. Both these conditions tend to protect the bottom from excessive heat. Lava rocks are cheap and easily available. Installation is also hassle-free.
Dust
Although this is not a very popular material, it can come as a substitute for sand or lava rocks. In texture, it’s closer to sand but it is much denser. This may not reflect the heat back but it offers efficient protection to the bottom from the excessive heat in the fire pit. The biggest drawback of using dust as the bottom liner of a fire-pit is that it’s a little messy to handle. If it gets wet because of being left outside, it can be a really messy affair cleaning the fire pit and reinstalling fresh dust.
Gravel
Gravels can be used as the base of the fire pit. It can settle as a nice bed of heat-resistant material for your fire pit. Gravels would cost in the same range as sand or lava rocks. Installation and maintenance of gravel inside the fire pit are easy. Gravels would distribute the heat evenly making sure no one particular spot is getting too much heat. In many ways, gravels compare well with lava rocks.
Fire Pit Glass
Fire Pit Glass is a man-made material that works as a perfect medium for lining the bottom of your fire pit. This material is available in a number of attractive colors and sizes. It is more expensive yet it does not radiate heat as efficiently as lava rocks. But it comes in fancy colors and sizes and it glows and reflects majestically in the flames. This is one of the most popular materials used in fire pits.
How to take care of your metal fire pit?
It’s possible for the fire pit to work efficiently without an additional material forming its base. It could be much easier and cleaner, too. Metal fire pits are designed keeping in mind efficient airflow and air circulation. Metal fire pits are strong and occasional or seasonal exposure to fire may not cause serious damage to them.
However, for the sake of aesthetics and to provide an extra layer of protection, the use of a material to line the bottom of the fire pit is a good idea.
For ensuring a longer life for your metal fire pit, you should take other precautions. For example, you should not leave your metal fire pit outside exposed to the elements. It can cause the metal surfaces to corrode and rust.
Additionally, you should apply a new coat of temperature-resistant paint on your metal fire pit at least once a year.
Concluding Thoughts
Metal fire pits have a strong body that does not get damaged easily. However, if you intend to use your metal fire pit more frequently, it’s a good idea to have a lining of a different material to its base. This will protect the bottom from excessive heat.
So, what to put in bottom of the metal fire pit? In this post, we have discussed a number of materials that can be used as the lining material for the bottom of your fire pit.