09/14/2026
There’s nothing like a crisp Carolina evening around your own
backyard fire… but before you build one, there’s a decision that shapes everything else: wood-burning or gas? Both bring completely different experiences, costs, and upkeep. Let’s break it down. 🔥
Nothing replicates the crackle, the smoky smell, and the intense heat of a real wood fire, it’s the classic backyard experience. It’s also the more budget-friendly build, since there’s no gas line to trench or burner to install. Bonus: it’s still the best option for hot dogs and s’mores🌲
Wood means buying, chopping and storing firewood, and starting a fire takes real effort. Depending on wind direction, smoke can chase your guests around the patio. Our tip: pairing a smokeless insert (like a Breeo or Solo Stove) into a custom masonry build cuts
the smoke dramatically while keeping that wood-fire feel. Just don’t forget the nightly ash cleanup🪵
Gas fire pits are becoming the go-to for luxury outdoor spaces across Raleigh, Cary, and Charlotte areas. Push-button (or app-controlled) ignition means an instant flame, perfect for a 20-minute fire with your morning coffee. Zero ash, zero smoke smell, zero wood to store. And because gas doesn’t need a deep log bowl, the design options open up: sleek fire tables, modern fire bowls, or a feature built right into your outdoor kitchen island. ✨
Gas isn’t without its downsides. Running an underground gas line means trenching, permits, and specialized plumbing… which raises the upfront cost. And while a gas burner brings warmth and ambiance, it won’t put out the same radiant heat as a roaring wood fire.
Wood-burning: cost comes down to materials (decorative block or stone veneer) and labor to build the structure and firebrick interior, generally the more affordable route.
Gas: the structure costs about the same to build, but you add a stainless burner kit, ignition system, decorative fire glass or ceramic logs, and the biggest variable: trenching the gas
line. The farther the pit sits from your home’s gas meter, the higher that cost climbs.
Choose wood if you want the authentic, rustic experience an
