There are many relatively inexpensive models available at big box stores, but for those buyers looking for something steadfast and durable, Crystalview Pool Spa Patio may be the place to start your search.
The store, which has been dealing in hot tubs, barbecues and backyard furniture since 1986, boasts a line of fire pits ranging in price from $1,600 to $4,000.
While other outlets tend to deal in pits priced between $500 and $1,500, Crystalview co-owner David Heron says his customers are getting value for their dollar.
"If people are looking for a product that is going to last them many years which is fully serviceable and is going to stand the weather and the test of time, this is where the price point needs to be."
Heron says Crystalview is committed to selling pits made by experienced manufacturers.
One model is an outdoor table with a lazy Susan option.
Following dinner, the lazy Susan can be dropped, allowing diners to enjoy dessert and good conversation while warmed by the power of 57,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) and staring at decorative ceramic logs or lava granules.
The outdoor table is heated with propane.
"The propane tank is concealed beneath the unit. There is no need for a natural gas hookup, but they offer the option of changing to natural gas," says Heron.
Many pits can be powered by propane or natural gas.
Both types of fuel are legal in all municipalities, although there are often tighter restrictions around wood-burning fire pits, according to Heron.
There's a few different types of caste-concrete that are typically used in producing some of the pits, and Heron says he prefers the heavier, stronger version because the light-weight caste-concrete tends to be fragile.
Crystalview's top fire pit is crafted in Squamish by Sticks + Stones.
"Our bestseller and my personal favourite is called the Sticks + Stones Full Moon," Heron says of the $3,000 model. "To me it's a work of art."
Designed by a Squamish artisan, the fire pit is three square feet with a 20-inch diameter and a weight of 300 pounds.
"They become a permanent fixture in the backyard and they're basically zero maintenance," says Heron. "The low maintenance is because the concrete needs no care and attention, just keep it clean. The burner is completely corrosion-resistant."
Ranging from bowls to benches to outdoor tables, the market for fire pits is exploding, according to Heron.
"In the past three years the request in the market for fire pits has just taken off like gangbusters," he says. "The West Coast nights can be a little chilly, and if you get the right fire pit in the right location, the whole idea is that you will extend your evening and make your springtime and your fall just like summer."
