To most people, there is nothing more satisfying than sitting outdoors with friends on a cool evening around a warming fire. And you don’t need to own acres of open land to be able to congregate around an open fire. With a fire bowl, you can safely entertain your guests outside on your patio or in your garden with minimal effort.
Fire bowls come in many shapes and styles and are the perfect addition to a well-appointed outside entertainment area. The most common type of fire bowl is also referred to as a fire pit and consists of a round bowl that sits atop a 3 or 4 legged stand constructed of iron or steel. The bowl itself is manufactured from a variety of metals including steel, stainless steel, copper, iron, bronze and stone. The more common fire bowls are copper and steel.
While the majority of fire bowls are round, there are quite a few models that are uniquely shaped, including squares, rectangles, ovals, even cylindrical. Depending on your taste, you’ll find that fire bowls come in everything from old-fashioned designs to ultra-modern and contemporary models.
Some fire bowls are manufactured exclusively for burning wood to heat an area of the patio for your guests to comfortably enjoy the cool evening air, while other models come equipped with an additional grill and grating that allows you to use your fire bowl as an outdoor grill. This feature is particularly handy when entertaining in the summertime or on weekend camping holidays. In addition to the bowl, grill and stand, a metal mesh cover known as a spark guard is usually included in the fire bowl package to ensure that embers from the fire do not escape to surrounding brush and cause a fire.
Another type of fire bowl new to the market is the gel fire bowl, which is a bit different from the larger fire pits discussed above. Gel fire bowls are an alternative to candles and come in sizes ranging from small to large. Made from reconstituted stone, otherwise known as terrazzo, gel fire bowls are used more for decoration and ambiance than for warmth; however, just like other fire bowls, they can be utilised in the cooler months to take the chill out of the air while chatting with your friends outdoors. One advantage to owning a gel fire bowl is that because they are fueled by gel, they are safe both indoors and outdoors with no safety risk.
For an even more modern and contemporary look, there is the uniquely designed fire bowl which is filled with volcanic pebbles and fueled by natural gas. This unique fire bowl comes equipped with a remote lighting feature. While this is technically called a fire bowl, this particular type of heat source requires that a chimney be erected when installed indoors.
Whatever the season, and whatever the reason, all year round, fire bowls add a special ambiance to a gathering of friends and family, a warm invitation to sit a spell and chat about all the good times gone by and those yet to be experienced.
