Outdoor fire pits are a lot of fun and let you enjoy some relaxing time outside with the family. However, if you’re building one as a DIY project, you must use suitable materials so you can be sure that your fire pit is safe. That said, you must be wondering what kind of rock to use for an outdoor fire pit.
The best fire bricks for outdoor fire pits are kiln-fired bricks. These bricks are fired to 1,800ºF (982ºC), making them safe to use in a fire pit. Under normal circumstances, fire pits reach maximum temperatures of about 1,200ºF (649ºC), which kiln-fired bricks can easily withstand.
This article will discuss why kiln-fired bricks are the best choice for your fire pit and why they’re safe. You’ll want to keep reading to learn more before you try to make an outdoor fire pit on your own.
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Why Kiln-Fired Bricks Are the Best for Outdoor Fire Pits
Kiln-fired bricks are one of the best choices for an outdoor fire pit for several reasons, including the following:
- High heat resistance: The brick won’t be damaged by standard fire pit temperatures.
- Ease of use in making a fire pit: Kiln-fired bricks aren’t as heavy or bulky as other stones, so you can move them from place to place without much trouble.
- Reasonable cost: Kiln-fired bricks aren’t nearly as expensive as other materials, such as granite.
No matter what type of stone you use, you should always ensure they’re fire-safe. Some rocks can crack or even explode under high temperatures, making them extremely dangerous for this project.
Let’s discuss why kiln-fired bricks are the best for fire pits in more detail:
High Heat Resistance
When making kiln-fired bricks, they need to be fired up to 1,800ºF (982ºC). They won’t melt, crack, or crumble unless you expose them to temperatures above that limit. However, that’s extremely unlikely to happen in a fire pit: the kilns that fire these bricks have special measures in place to reach such high temperatures — you won’t be able to recreate that heat with just a fire pit.
This means kiln-fired bricks can resist damage from the heat of fire pit flames. At most, the temperature of the flames in your fire pit should reach 1,200ºF (about 649ºC), which is well below the point the brick can handle.
Ease of Use in Making a Fire Pit
Kiln-fired bricks are also the perfect shape for making a fire pit. You can use them to make a large, above-ground circle, which is comfortable to sit around. There are plenty of online tutorials you can use to determine the best shape for your pit using kiln-fired bricks.
Making a fire pit using kiln-fired bricks is a simple process. It takes less time than using other materials since you don’t need to do much preparation before you start laying down the bricks. Plus, they aren’t too bulky, so they’re easy to move around.
Reasonable Cost
Generally, kiln-fired bricks are an affordable material, so you won’t have to set a high budget for this project, unlike if you were to use refractory bricks. Refractory bricks can also be found in fireplaces and kilns, which shows how reliable they are when it comes to fire.
Refractory bricks can resist even higher temperatures than kiln-fired bricks (they can withstand temperatures higher than 3,630°F (2,000°C)). However, they’re much more expensive. Generally, the more heat a brick can resist, the more expensive it is.
Still, kiln-fired bricks are the best choice for a fire pit material. In addition to withstanding extremely high temperatures, they also conduct heat effectively.
Why Kiln-Fired Bricks Are Safe To Use in Outdoor Fire Pits
As mentioned above, kiln-fired bricks have an excellent heat resistance of up to 1800ºF (982ºC). When exposed to temperatures above their limit, bricks can melt, crack or explode, which can be hazardous.
The fire you create in a pit generally reaches temperatures between 600 and 1,200ºF (about 316 to 649ºC). Metal and stainless steel smokeless fire pits such as the Breeo, can reach a temperature closer to 1,000ºF (538ºC). Since kiln-fired bricks won’t react to temperatures under their firing point, you shouldn’t have to worry about damaging them in a regular fire pit.
In other words, under normal circumstances, your outdoor fire pit shouldn’t get hot enough to cause an adverse reaction in standard kiln-fired bricks.
Other Great Fire Pit Materials To Consider
That said, there are plenty of other options for materials for your fire pit. You can choose from any of the following materials and still get great results:
Granite
Granite is an outstanding material for fire pits. It’s more durable than kiln-fired bricks. However, it will cost you more, and it’s also a lot heavier, making it harder to transport and build with. This is why I don’t recommend it as the best option for building an outdoor fire pit.
Still, you can consider using granite instead, as it has high-temperature resistance and is very long-lasting.
Concrete
Concrete is another excellent fire pit building material. Like kiln-fired bricks, it’s easy to use and comes with decent heat resistance. Pouring your own concrete allows you to create various fire pit shapes too.
Concrete is also relatively cheap, especially if you mix it on your own instead of buying it premixed. However, you may not like how it looks compared to other building materials. Concrete can look nice, but you will need to work harder to get an aesthetically pleasing result.
Lastly, concrete comes in different colors and types, so you always need to make sure you purchase a fire-resistant version that won’t burst under high heat.
Can You Put Any Rock in a Fire Pit?
You can’t put any rock in a fire pit as some rocks break down at lower temperatures than others, so they’ll crack when you light a fire near them. If that happens, the fire may escape through broken areas. Some rocks also absorb water easily, making them unsuitable for a fire pit.
You’ll want to choose reliable rocks that can keep the fire contained, so you shouldn’t use just any stone in your fire pit. You’ll want to research your selected materials and ensure you only use fire-safe materials. Refractory brick, granite, and kiln-fired bricks are some of the best – and safest – choices.
It’s also a good idea to research what types of stones or bricks you can’t use in a fire pit to help you avoid danger.
What Stones Shouldn’t You Use in a Fire Pit?
Some materials can be dangerous for various reasons, so you’ll want to do your best to avoid using them for this project. Some rocks are “soft,” meaning they’re not as dense as the fire-safe ones.
You shouldn’t use sandstone, gravel, and limestone in a fire pit. These stones are incredibly soft and porous and will crumble or explode under high heat.
In general, you want to avoid very porous materials, so make sure the material is dry whenever you wish to light a fire. Gravel can also be dangerous in fire pits, so don’t use it either.
Harder, less porous rocks will always be the better option. These building materials don’t hold water, so they won’t burst when you start a fire. They’ll also last you a lot longer, so you won’t need to rebuild your fire pit so soon.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, the best fire bricks for an outdoor fire pit would have to be kiln-fired bricks. You can find them at a fair price, they have high heat resistance, and they’re easy to shape into the design of your fire pit. Overall, they’re very safe for this kind of project.
So, if you’re making a fire pit in your backyard, kiln-fired bricks are a great option. You can also use concrete or granite and get equally good results.
