"Personally, I'd rather focus on spacing and materials."
Yeah, spacing definitely matters. Had a close call once when sparks jumped past my screen onto dry grass nearby...lesson learned. Gravel and pavers sound smart—anyone tried sand as an extra buffer? Seems like it'd help too.
Sand could definitely help, especially if you're looking for something budget-friendly. I've seen folks use it as a base layer beneath gravel or pavers—helps level things out and provides an extra barrier against stray sparks. Only downside I've noticed is that sand can track around easily, especially if you've got kids or pets running through the area. Maybe combining sand underneath with gravel on top would keep things tidy? Just thinking out loud here...
I've done a few fire pits myself, and sand underneath gravel is actually a pretty solid combo. Here's how I'd approach it: first, dig out your pit area about 4-6 inches deep, then lay down landscape fabric to keep weeds at bay. Next, spread a good 2-inch layer of sand—helps level things nicely and absorbs heat well. Finally, top it off with gravel or crushed stone to keep things tidy (and less sandy footprints in the house...). Worked great for me, even with two dogs running around.
Good points about the sand and gravel setup—I did something similar and it's held up nicely. Curious though, did you add any edging around your pit? I skipped it initially, but now I'm thinking it might help contain the gravel better...
I didn't add edging at first either, figured it was just extra work and expense. But after a few months of constantly sweeping gravel back into place, I finally caved and put in some simple metal edging. Honestly, it made a huge difference—keeps everything tidy and saves me from having to rake gravel out of the grass every weekend. Plus, it gives the pit a more finished look.
One thing I'd suggest though: avoid plastic edging if you can. A neighbor tried that route, and after a couple hot fires, the heat warped it pretty badly. Metal or stone seems to hold up way better in my experience.
Speaking of safety though, has anyone else noticed sparks traveling further than expected? I've been thinking about adding one of those mesh spark screens...wondering if they're worth the hassle or just another thing that'll rust out in a year or two.
