Exploring 4 Common Fire Pit Fillers or Toppings

Exploring 4 Common Fire Pit Fillers/Toppings: Comparing Lava Rock, Fire Stones, Glass, and the Hazards of Real Stone

Creating the perfect ambiance in your outdoor space with a modern gas fire pit often involves choosing the right materials that are both safe and aesthetically pleasing. Solus Decor, a company renowned for its contemporary fire pits and concrete products, offers a couple of options to elevate your outdoor experience. In this exploration, we’ll compare popular fire pit toppings, including lava rock, fire stones made to mimic real stone and fire glass, while also shedding light on the potential hazards associated with using real stone.

Lava Rock:

Appearance: Lava rock, a natural and porous stone, adds a rustic charm to fire pits with its diverse shapes and sizes. Solus lava rock is black as although some others use red lava stone, this isn’t as natural or attractive to our eye. What our clients see arguably matters most to them, and therefore is of utmost importance to us.

Functionality: Widely used as a filler material in gas fire pits to cover the burner and plate, lava rock possesses the unique ability to absorb and radiate heat, ensuring a lasting warmth even after the flames have subsided. 

Solus Decor’s modern fire pits come integrated with lava rock, enhancing both the aesthetic appeal and functional warmth of your outdoor space.

Solus Fire Stones:  Refractory stone made to look like real stone

Appearance: For a modern and stylish look, Solus Decor’s fire stones are available in various colors and shapes, serving as decorative elements.  The purpose of the Solus stone is two fold: To keep the lava in the fire pit when they are wet as they will want to “pop” out when wet with the addition of instant heat.  For safety – the Solus fire stone is actually refractory concrete kiln dried at hundreds of degrees to allow for them to inset into a fire pit safely.  Real stone should never be put into a fire pit as it is extremely dangerous and yet all sorts of companies utilize it for fire pits and it is sold widely on the internet.  Specifically, natural stones are unsafe to use as they will split under heat and become projectiles. We have been in the fire pit business for 19 years and are still befuddled by the “river stone” that is sold by fire pit manufacturers or online retailers. 

Functionality: Primarily chosen for their decorative qualities, fire stones are often placed on top of burners or layered over other filler materials.  All Solus Decor’s fire pits have a centering of fire stone around the burner jets to reduce lava from “popping”.  We do have the option of selling additional stone to fill the entire fire bowl or fire table.

Solus Decor’s range of fire pit, fire bowl and fire tables beautifully complement the use of fire stones and add a contemporary touch to your outdoor setting.

Fire Glass:

Appearance: Tempered glass, known as fire glass, comes in an array of colors, providing a vibrant and sparkling aesthetic to a fire pit.  Fire glass is a beautiful addition to a sleek concrete fire pit, and if installed correctly, completely safe.  However, a cautionary note, if you are using a propane fire pit be careful that the layer of glass is not too thick.  In the event of a leak, the glass may trap the propane in the bowl (as propane is heavier than air) causing it to sink to the bottom of the vessel.  Nonetheless, unlike lava rock fire glass doesn’t absorb heat but rather reflects flames. This creates a mesmerizing visual display, making it a popular choice amongst our customers. 

Weighing up safety concerns and aesthetics:

While natural stone can lend a timeless and earthy feel to fire pits, it’s crucial to be aware of potential hazards. It is a ridiculous item to put in a fire pit and yet it is actively sold and readily available online. Real stone, when subjected to intense heat, may crack or explode due to its porous nature. Therefore posing a safety risk and potentially leading to structural damage. Refractory fire stone on the other hand is made to mimic real stone and is the only safe alternative with the same aesthetic.

When selecting fire pit fillers or toppings striking a balance between aesthetics and safety is paramount. Solus Decor’s offerings showcase a blend of contemporary design and quality materials, providing diverse options to create a captivating outdoor space while prioritizing safety.