Adding a copper fire pit to your patio can add a touch of warmth and elegance. These richly colored fire pits can also help you create a nice place to spend evenings on your patio, either a quiet evening alone or a cozy evening with friends. This specific style has a number of benefits, but before you decide to buy one make sure this is the right type of outdoor fireplace to fit your needs.
The Popularity of Copper
Copper has become a popular material for a number of uses in homes besides wiring and water pipes. Many people are taking advantage of the warm beauty and durability of copper for use in things like copper sinks, copper hose storage and outdoor copper fire pits. If you use copper in other areas of your home, especially outside, adding a copper fire pit can help create a cohesive theme.
Copper Fire Pits
If you are looking for a small outdoor fireplace that won’t take up too much space an outdoor copper fire pit is a good fit. Generally speaking copper fire pits are pretty small and meant to be used on a patio. Some models are even made to be easily portable. If you are looking for a portable fire pit to take to the beach or camping look for one that folds and has a carrying case.
You can also find a fire pit table that uses a copper fire bowl. Most of these have a relatively small table space, but they still provide additional functionality and they can be used as a small patio table. Some of them even have decorative mosaic tile that can help enhance the look of your patio especially when blended well with planters or other outdoor accenting items on your patio.
Most copper fire pits come with a few basic outdoor fireplace accessories like a spark screen, a lifting tool and a stand. Some will even come with fire pit covers, if not consider investing in one to help protect it and to prevent ashes from blowing in your yard.
While solid copper fire bowls can be expensive, especially if you choose an artisan crafted hammered copper fire bowl, those made with iron and coated in copper are much less expensive. You can find a number of copper coated fire pits under $200.
It is important to know that copper outdoor fire pits won’t keep that shiny copper look. Once they are used and as they sit outside they will develop a patina over time. Some people love the look of the patina finish so this is seen as a benefit, but others don’t. Just don’t expect it to remain shiny over time.
As with any other wood burning outdoor fire pits copper patio fire pits may create a bit more smoke if they use wood for fuel because they don’t have a design to direct the smoke upwards like an chiminea or a fixed brick or stone outdoor fireplace. However if you choose a gas fire pit you won’t have this problem with smoke.
Because this style of patio fireplace is so easy to move around sometimes people forget about basic fire safety. Make sure you only use it on a stable non-flammable surface. Also be sure to keep your backyard fire pit a safe distance from anything remotely flammable like branches, bushes or your home.
Copper Fire Bowls
A copper fire bowl is pretty similar to a copper fire pit, in fact some may use the terms interchangeably. To me though copper fire bowls are deeper, rounder and many of them have more distinct design features. I’ve seen some fire pit bowls that are in the shape of dancing flames or other intricate designs. But overall a copper fire bowl will have the same benefits and drawbacks as a copper fire pit.