Alive Outside Landscaping Blog

Let’s face it—we’re crazy about being outdoors. As the weather gets cooler one of our favorite ways to enjoy being outside (while staying at home) is by sitting around a beautiful fire pit and taking in the warmth of a fire. Picking the material for a custom fire pit is important both for function and aesthetics, so our crew at Alive Outside Landscaping has put together a list of the best materials for a fire pit installation.

Learn about brick, concrete pavers, and stacked stone and which might be best for your property in or around Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor or nearby areas of northern Colorado.

Materials and construction of a custom fire pit.

Constructing a fire pit is a relatively simple process, but it takes a bit of skill to correctly design a fire pit that is safe while also looking good. The outer rim can be constructed with any number of materials (we’ll get to that in a minute), but the inside usually includes crushed stone.

Fire pits also include what is called a “cap” on top of the walls of the pit to increase stability and/or create a different aesthetic. Flagstone is one of our favorite materials for fire pit caps, and we can also use it as the base material for the center of the fire pit.

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Traditional brick

Brick is a traditional material for anything fire related. The material is naturally heat resistant and comes in a variety of colors and styles to suit your...

Adding a fire feature to your yard can provide a beautiful focal point as well as add ambiance to your outdoor living space. But deciding which type of fire feature to use can be a tough decision. Both can add warmth and heat on a cool evening, but they are very different in terms of size, structure, and other aspects.

If you own property in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, or surrounding Colorado areas and are considering putting a fire feature into your outdoor living space, here are some things to consider when comparing outdoor fireplaces vs. fire pits.

Outdoor Fire Pits Allow for More Interaction Around the Fire

One large perk of an outdoor fire pit is that when it's typically built, it's in a shape that allows for people to sit around the fire and interact. Often, a fire pit build will also include a matching stone seating wall. Fire pits are a great element for families with children who may want to sit outside roasting hot dogs or marshmallows. The smoke from the fire pit can also serve as a natural way to repel pests like mosquitoes, as they do not like smoke and will stay away from it.

Fire pits can be made in a circular shape, but also square, rectangular, or oval, depending on the property owner's preference. Typically, they are around three feet in diameter but as our fire pits are completely custom, they can be any size desired. A fire pit can be gas or wood-burning and can be located pretty much anywhere on the...

In our area of Colorado, we have fantastic weather, beautiful scenery, and active wildlife. So when we heard from one of our clients in Fort Collins that they wanted to add on a new fantastic outdoor living space to maximize their enjoyment of the outdoors, we were thrilled to help.

We sat down with the clients and planned out exactly what they wanted to see—and the end result was a gorgeous outdoor living space that addressed everything they were looking for. Take a look to see the additions we made to their space and learn about the benefits of these features.

Custom Paver Patio & Walkway Extends Livable Area, Adds Functional Space to the Yard

The first element we added was a custom paver patio and walkway. This feature works to tie everything together and really create a cohesive feel throughout the space. We chose a darker grey color for the pavers so that they would match well with the exterior of the home. This patio gives the homeowners a great area to extend their livable area with some functional space where they can add patio furniture and entertain guests during the year.

Gas-Burning Fire Pit Adds Ambiance & Increases Enjoyment During the Cooler Months

Another feature the homeowners wanted to see was a gas-burning fire pit. In the area of Colorado that includes Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, we definitely get cooler weather once fall and winter hit. The fire pit gives them and their guests a chance to...