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When you are shopping for an outdoor fire table, it is important to think about the “outdoor” part. Whether you will be placing the table on your patio, deck, or elsewhere in your outdoor space, it can greatly enhance your backyard. But at the same time, it will be subject to the elements every day, so durable features and a top design are musts.
In this guide, we will go over questions to ask yourself and important buying considerations when choosing a fire table for your outdoor living space. That way, you can make the right choice to enhance your patio décor.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Choosing an Outdoor Fire Pit Table
For an outdoor fire pit table to make a wonderful addition to your outdoor space, it needs to be the right fit for your outdoors. Following are some questions that can help guide you during the purchase process.
- What is your elevation? This can have an impact on the BTU that is appropriate.
- Is it hot or cold where you live? This is another consideration that can influence the heat output that will be ideal for you.
- How windy does it get? Wind can cause safety issues with too high a heat output. Also, you might consider looking for a wind guard if strong gusts can be expected regularly during use.
- How much precipitation do you get? This will be a major consideration if you get a lot of rain and snow, because either can lead to corrosion. Even a very humid climate could cause problems with rust regardless of how much actual precipitation you receive.
- How much space do you have available? You will need to pick an outdoor table with fire pit that fits in your layout. Certain fire pit features and accessories such as a lid could be especially helpful if you do not have room for a separate dining table.
- How portable do you need your fire table to be? If you are thinking about a concrete fire table, you might want to reconsider if you expect to move it around a lot.
- Do you want to deal with a propane tank? Propane tank storage may or may not be feasible, depending on how much space you have available. Plus, if you get a lot of rain, you may not want to worry about protecting a tank from rust (though a propane tank cover can do the trick if necessary).
Robson Fire Table
How to Choose an Outdoor Fire Table: Key Buying Considerations
Now that you have some context for your particular needs, let’s go over important buying considerations when choosing an outdoor propane fire pit table.
1. Construction and Durability
Anything that is going to be spending a lot of time in your outdoor living space is going to be subject to the forces of nature on a continuous basis. So, it is going to need high-quality, durable materials and construction that can stand the test of time.
A steel fire pit table is our top recommendation. Concrete may be strong, but it is also hard to move when necessary. As for aluminum, that is lightweight, but it is a material that is prone to rust. Steel is more cost-effective and less prone to rusting, and is also fairly lightweight.
2. Propane vs. Gas
There are pros and cons to both propane and natural gas for fire tables. If you have a natural gas line, natural gas can be inexpensive and convenient. But propane burns cleaner.
Small patios may not have a lot of room to accommodate a propane tank, however, so that is something else to keep in mind if you are trying to conserve patio space.
Thankfully, if you are having a hard time making your decision, you can still pick out the right fire pit table. A simple conversion kit can be used to switch between propane and natural gas.
3. Resistance to Corrosion
When choosing a steel fire table, look for one that includes a high-quality, even application of powder coating to protect the metal from corroding. Even though steel doesn’t rust as easily as an aluminum frame, it can still happen without that coating. This is extra important if you are choosing a fire table for a rainy climate.
4. Heat Output
The best fire pit table will feature the heat output that is suitable for your climate as measured in BTU/HR. 70,000 BTU/HR may be necessary at a high altitude. Otherwise, anywhere from 20,000-50,000 BTU/HR may be ideal, depending on how cold it gets during the winter. When the weather turns cooler, you may need a higher BTU inside that range.
Both the warmth and the height of the flames increase with a higher BTU, so those considerations can also help you make your selection.
5. Fire Pit Accessories
Finally, compatibility with accessories is another important consideration for shoppers looking to add a fire pit table to their modern outdoor space.
A mesh screen may be helpful for flame control during windy conditions, and a burner cover or lid can offer extra protection for your fire table when it is not in use for social gatherings.
Granville Fire Table
Outdoor Fire Table: In Closing...
We have talked about what features and considerations are important when selecting an outdoor gas fire pit table. With what you have learned reading this post, you should be able to make an informed choice, picking out the product that will be the right fit for your outdoor space, climate, and planned use. Explore the Outland Living fire table collection.