Take the chill out
Southern Nevadans have followed the national trend of creating outdoor living spaces in their backyards that can be used year-round thanks to the Mojave Desert’s mild winters.
"The biggest trend in the last five to 10 years has been the creation of outdoor living spaces, and this encompasses everything from the outdoor barbecues, covered patio, outdoor furniture, swimming pools. … It’s like creating a living room or great room for outdoor use," explained Dave Miller, brand manager for Heat & Glo, which is among the more than 1,700 exhibitors at this week’s International Builders’ Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Among the products that have made their way into nationwide retail stores are outdoor fire pits and outdoor fireplaces.
"Our customers are choosing outdoor fireplaces and fire pits to help create a gathering spot or focal point in their backyards," Miller said. "And more and more builders are offering this type of product and creating outdoor living areas in their home design."
These products vary in aesthetic design, cost and energy source.
Products labeled as "outdoor fireplaces" and "fire pits" can be found year-round on the shelves of area retailers. Some of the lower-end models, priced at less than $50, are constructed out of metal and may have the appearance of a metal bowl or an enclosed metal structure with wire mesh covering. Some have grates under which charcoal or wood may be placed and used for cooking. However, wood-burning units have limited use in Nevada because wood may not be burned outdoors for purposes other than cooking without a permit due to Nevada state codes and open burning laws, according to Tim Szymanski of the Las Vegas Fire Department.
Gas- and propane-fueled fires
According to Miller, states’ burning laws were a catalyst for his company’s development of a portable nonwood-burning fire pit in the mid-1990s, a model that has expanded into today’s myriad fire pit designs and use of natural gas or propane as the energy source.
"We originated the portable gas campfire concept in the mid-1990s after receiving requests from those wanting to have a campfire in an area where there was a ‘no burn calendar,’" Miller said. "People at these campgrounds could still enjoy a campfire with our product and wouldn’t be in any violation of a ‘no burn calendar.’"
This gas-operated concept evolved into Heat & Glo’s residential fire pit offerings. Some are located at ground-level with trim-out or circular rings, while others are above ground in vases, metal bowl-like units and in the center of functional tables.
" The type of gas-operated fire pit that we now offer is portable to the extent that you can move it around. It also has the ability to be built-in with custom stonework or architecturally built into the landscape," Miller said. "You can use portable propane and small camping, barbecue-type cylinders or have it piped into a home’s gas line."
Because of state restrictions, many local specialty retailers only offer gas- and propane-fueled outdoor fireplaces and fire pits, according to Stephanie Daulton of Silver State Fireplaces in Las Vegas. Or, they may require that wood-burning units be converted into gas- or propane-fueled ones.
"One of our most popular models is the Dakota, a 42-inch stainless steel fireplace," Daulton said. "Another is the Montana (model) which comes in either 36 inch or 42 inch and is a ‘wood-burning-style’ fireplace. Because it is not legal to burn wood in an outdoor fireplace anymore, the Montana would need to be connected into gas. The nice thing is that you can put a gas log in it or use a special-order product to create a unique look."
Daulton said a unit’s façade may be customized and owners may create a unique look by opting for an approved product other than faux fire logs. Special-order options include materials that look like broken glass, faux charcoal-size and ice-cube shape rocks; and larger geometric shapes, balls and cones.
Electric option
Another option exists for residents who wish to limit the use of flammable fuel: outdoor electric fireplaces.
According to a spokesperson for electric fireplace distributor Dimplex North America, electric fireplaces are available in a variety of styles, can emit heat and help meet other needs of outdoor living spaces. For example, its Scottsdale electric model has built-in speakers, a CD player, radio and MP3 output and its Spectra outdoor electric stove model features a built-in fan that disperses citronella fragrance to help deter insects.
