Fire Pits
Fire Pit Installation in Medford, NY
Built-in and freestanding fire pits in block, stone and paver, gas or wood-burning. Sized to the seating you actually own and sited where it’s legal and sensible to have a fire.
Get the sizing right and everything else follows
The most common mistake with a fire pit is building it the size that looks right in the catalogue rather than the size that works with your chairs.
Interior diameter determines how big a fire you can have. Too small and it’s a candle; too big and the people opposite each other are too far apart to talk.
Seating distance is what actually determines the footprint. People sit back from a fire, not up against it, so the circle of chairs is considerably wider than the pit. Measure the space you’ve got and work inward: a pit that leaves no room to walk behind a seated person is one nobody uses twice.
Wall height matters more than people expect. A low wall lets you feel the heat at ankle level and rest your feet; a tall one throws the heat up and away and doubles as a bench.
We’ll work this out on site with your furniture in mind, not from a plan view.
Gas or wood
Wood-burning is the fire most people picture: the smell, the sound, the actual flames. It also means storing and carrying wood, cleaning out ash, and dealing with smoke that follows whoever it feels like following. On smaller lots, smoke drifting to a neighbour’s property is a real consideration.
Gas lights instantly, produces no smoke or ash, and switches off when you go inside. Run off natural gas it never needs refilling; on propane you’re managing a tank. It gives less radiant heat than a wood fire of the same size, which surprises people.
The practical question is usually: how often will you actually light it? Wood fires get used on occasions. Gas fires get used on Tuesdays. If the point is to use the yard more, gas usually wins.
If you’re running a gas line anyway, it’s worth thinking about whether an outdoor kitchen is also on the list: one trench, one connection. Outdoor kitchens →
Siting and safety
A fire pit needs clearance. From the house, from fences, from overhanging branches, from the property line, and from anything else that burns.
What we can say without qualification: we’ll tell you where it can go before we quote, not after we’ve built it.
Building it into the patio
A fire pit that was clearly added later always looks like it was added later. The paving runs up to it and stops, the base course sits proud, the materials nearly match.
If you’re having a patio built, build the fire pit at the same time. The paving gets laid around it, the base is continuous, the materials are from the same batch, and any gas run goes in before the surface goes down rather than after.
If the patio already exists, we can still do a proper job. It means lifting and relaying around the new work, which is a cost line worth knowing about in advance.
Why this crew
We’re local to Medford, we’ll size it against your actual furniture, and we’ll tell you the setbacks before you’ve committed to a location.
ICPI certified, Techo-Bloc Pro, A+ with the BBB.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a fire pit take to build?
A freestanding built-in pit on an existing surface is typically one to two days. Integrated into a new patio it’s part of the wider build.
Can I put one on my existing patio?
Usually. It depends on what the patio is built on and whether it can take the point load. We’ll look at it.
Gas or wood, which is cheaper to run?
Wood is cheaper per fire if you have a wood source. Gas costs more per hour but gets used far more often, which is usually the point.
Will smoke bother my neighbours?
On a typical Medford lot, possibly, depending on wind and how close the boundary is. It’s the main practical argument for gas on smaller properties.
What does it cost?
It depends on whether it is wood-burning or gas, and freestanding or integrated. The estimate is free and on site, which is the only way to give you a figure for your property rather than a range that fits everyone. Book one and we will price it in front of you, or call (631) 245-9273 to talk it through first.