Fire Pits & Outdoor Heating: How to Extend Your Garden Season into Winter

The single feature that extends your season

If there's one addition that transforms a winter garden from "too cold to bother" to "let's sit out", it's a fire pit. There's something primal and genuinely warming about an open flame on a cold evening — and combined with a covered or sheltered seating area, it turns October-to-March from dead months into some of the most enjoyable evenings of the year.

Here's how to do it properly.

Choosing the right fire feature

Wood-burning fire pits. The classic — crackling, atmospheric, and genuinely hot. Best for open areas with good ventilation. We build these into patios using a steel or stone bowl set into a prepared recess with a non-combustible base.

Gas fire pits. Cleaner, instant, controllable, and usable under covered structures where a wood fire wouldn't be safe. These need a gas supply or LPG bottle housed discreetly nearby, but they're the choice if your fire pit sits under a pergola.

Fire tables. A fire pit and a coffee table in one — the flame runs through the centre and you sit around the edge with drinks. These are the most sociable option and the most popular in our recent builds.

Patio heaters and heat lamps. Electric or gas radiant heaters mounted to a pergola or wall give targeted warmth without a flame. Often used alongside a fire pit for the very coldest evenings.

Building it in safely

A fire pit isn't a drop-in accessory — it needs to be designed into the patio from the start. That means:

• A non-combustible base (stone, concrete or porcelain, never composite decking directly underneath).
• Clearance from overhead structures and side walls — gas fires can sit under a louvered roof; wood fires need open sky above.
• A stable, level recess so the bowl sits flush and can't be knocked.
• Seating distance that's warm but not too close — typically 1–1.5m from the flame.

If you're planning a new patio, tell us you want a fire pit before we start and we'll design the layout, drainage and material choice around it. Retrofitting is possible but always looks better when it's part of the original build.

Pairing with seating and shelter

A fire pit on its own is good. A fire pit with a wind break, a covered seat and some warm lighting is exceptional. The combination is what makes the space usable in November, not just September. Even a simple semi-circular seating wall around the fire pit — built in matching stone — holds heat, blocks wind and gives the area a real focal point.

Running costs and practicalities

• Wood pits cost almost nothing to run — a few logs an evening.
• Gas pits cost more in fuel but are effortless to light and control.
• Electric heaters are cheap to run for short evening sessions.

The right choice depends on how you'll use it, where it sits, and whether you want atmosphere (wood) or convenience (gas/electric).

Want a fire pit built into your patio? Request a free quote or book a site visit — we design the whole seating area around it.