- Totally agree with you on the weathering—sometimes the best-looking fire pits I've seen are the ones that have been around a while and have a bit of character from use.
- I built mine with limestone too, and honestly, I didn't bother sealing it at first. Figured it'd be fine since it's outdoors anyway. But after about a year, I did notice some subtle staining from soot and moisture, nothing major though.
- Eventually, I decided to give sealing a try just to see if it made any difference. Used a basic stone sealer from the hardware store (nothing fancy), and it actually did help quite a bit. The stains became way less noticeable, and cleanup was easier too.
- One thing to keep in mind though: sealing isn't permanent. You'll probably need to reapply every couple of years depending on how much you use the pit and your local climate conditions. For me, it's about every two years or so.
"a bit of weathering can actually give it some character..."
- Exactly this! Personally, I wouldn't stress too much about minor discoloration or imperfections—it's an outdoor feature after all, not a kitchen countertop. A little soot or weathering just shows it's being enjoyed.
- Just curious though...did you build yours directly on grass or gravel? Asking because I've seen some people put limestone pits straight onto grass, and the heat ends up killing the lawn underneath pretty quickly. I went with gravel myself for better drainage and less maintenance hassle down the line.
"Just curious though...did you build yours directly on grass or gravel?"
Mine's on gravel too—definitely recommend it. Grass underneath tends to get scorched pretty quickly, plus gravel helps with drainage and airflow. Also, if you're worried about safety, make sure you've got a decent buffer zone around the pit. I added a ring of pavers around mine to keep chairs at a safe distance and prevent sparks from landing on anything flammable. Better safe than sorry...
Mine's gravel as well, and honestly, I think it's the way to go. Did you put any kind of weed barrier underneath yours? I skipped it at first thinking it'd be fine, but weeds started popping through after a while, which was annoying. Ended up pulling the gravel back and adding some landscape fabric—definitely worth the extra effort. Also curious if anyone's tried sand underneath...would that help with heat dispersion or just make a mess?
Gravel definitely seems like a solid choice for fire pits, especially considering drainage and heat resistance. I second your recommendation on landscape fabric—I've seen clients skip it initially, only to regret it later. As for sand, while it might seem like a good idea for heat dispersion, it can shift around and become uneven over time. I've found a compacted gravel base over fabric is usually sufficient to disperse heat safely and maintain stability. Sand can get messy pretty quickly, especially if you live somewhere rainy or windy...
"Sand can get messy pretty quickly, especially if you live somewhere rainy or windy..."
Couldn't agree more—I've seen sand turn into a muddy mess after just a few rainy days. Gravel over fabric is definitely the safer bet. Your setup sounds thoughtfully planned and reliable.
