Is It Safe to Use a Metal Firepit on Your Concrete Patio?
It’s getting to be that time of year. The season when it cools down enough that it seems there’s nothing better than sitting around a warm fire. Maybe you have memories of bonfires, roasting marshmallows, watching the flames dance. It’s a beloved pastime for many.
But not everyone has the yard or the space for a bonfire. In fact, some areas actually won’t allow bonfires, especially if you’re part of a homeowner’s association. Perhaps this explains why metal fire pits have become so popular. You can get them in a variety of styles, they can burn wood or propane, they’re easy to move when you’re not using them. Oh, and the clean-up is so easy because the debris stays in one place.
But are metal fire pits safe on concrete?
We get this question a lot around this time of year. Everyone wants to sit around a fire, and a great spot to do that is your concrete patio. But people worry that the heat from the metal fire pit may cause their concrete to crack. Or maybe the heat could burn and stain the surface of the concrete.
If you had this same question, then you were on to something. Because the extreme heat that some metal fire pits give off can damage your concrete.
Here’s how. When concrete is poured, tiny air bubbles get trapped throughout. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just the way concrete is mixed and installed. But when you apply high temperatures to the surface of concrete, the air trapped inside those bubbles begins to expand until—CRACK!—the air breaks through the concrete to escape.
This can cause surface damage leading to pitting and spalling, as well as deep structural damage causing cracks.
Will all fire pits damage your concrete?
Not all fire pits will damage your concrete. It depends on a few factors
What fuels the fire pit (wood or propane gas)
What the fire pit is made of (steel, copper, wrought iron, aluminum)
How close to the concrete your fire pit sits
For example, a wood fire pit will burn hotter than a propane fire pit. And when a wood-burning metal fire pit sits just inches above your concrete, it can give off temperatures as high as 2000℉. In a situation like that, your concrete is likely to crack.
What can you do to prevent your fire pit from damaging your concrete?
There are a few things you can do to prevent your fire pit from damaging your concrete. We don’t recommend putting it in your grass because you’ll just end up with dead spots in your lawn.
You could try raising the fire pit higher above the concrete with bricks or cinderblocks; however, this setup isn’t going to look nice, and it could be unsafe. If the heat from the fire can crack your concrete, then it may crack the bricks you use to boost it. And if that happens and your fire pit tips over, you’ve got an even bigger problem.
So we recommend using a fire retardant mat. You can find these nifty products on Amazon or at most big box and hardware stores. These mats are great because they’re so easy to use. Lay it where you want your fire pit to sit, set the fire pit on top, and enjoy your fire. And not only are they easy, but they’re also a lot less expensive than replacing a section of concrete every year.
If your concrete has been cracked, stained, pitted, spalled, or has shifted over the years, contact us at Level Best. We can help restore your concrete and fix the damage from wear and tear.