When conceiving your dream fire pit, choosing the right materials for the job is important. After all, it’s supposed to be a long-term investment, a place where you spend some time with family and friends as you gather around warm flames and stories of the past. This means comfort – and, above all, safety. Nobody wants their project exploding or breaking away due to high temperatures. With that said, are brick pavers fireproof or not?
Keep reading this article to find out whether we can use these famous paving stones in a fire pit – and how. Or, in case you’re looking for a complete guide on brick pavers, click here.
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So, Are Brick Pavers Fireproof?
It depends. Clay bricks will not ignite – meaning that they won’t catch on fire in any way – but they can just withstand so much of a high temperature before starting to give away. If you’re worried about the standards of your walls or front yard, that’s not a concern you should have – so hopefully, we’ve answered the question.
Now, if you’re planning to build a fire pit at your home, there are some products on the market that are specifically designed to receive plenty of heat without being compromised. More on that in a bit.
Brick Pavers As a Construction Material
You see, regular brick pavers have been used as a construction material for thousands of years – even before the inception of concrete, a modern alternative. They are made out of heated clay, which retains a more distinct color for aesthetic purposes, though not as resistant as concrete. That means that, over time, they are vulnerable to cracks and stains, which you can solve by sealing your floor twice a year.
When speaking of fire pits, however, sealing is not a viable option. Unlike driveways and patios, for instance, these projects need to be heat-resistant as much as possible, which we can achieve by choosing a specific set of bricks that won’t compromise the whole thing and put your personal safety at bay.
Choosing the Right Fireproof Bricks
With that in mind, it’s time to go over three different solutions to this problem. Getting yourself these suggested products will guarantee the perfect fire pit for your household:
Fire pit pads
These serve as protective heat shields that you can place between your regular brick pavers and the center of the fire pit. Since they are made of carbon fibers, even volcanic lava can’t get through them. They are a little bit expensive – ranging from $100 to $200 – but depending on the properties of the project, you can even get them customized to your flavor.
Kiln-fired brick pavers
Kiln brick pavers, on the other hand, are fired up to 1800F° and easily withstand the heat of flames, even upon direct contact. Of course, this makes them perfect options for fire pits of any shape and form.
Firebricks
Firebricks – also called refractory bricks – are much denser than regular bricks and also go through a kiln process to be able to withstand scalding-hot temperatures.
This variant is the most ideal for fire pits – especially if combined with cement and fire clay mortar as a base, considering the fact these are used in furnaces and industrial ovens around the world.
Although a little bit expensive, they are the safest and most long-lasting option by far. A proper fire pit made out of firebricks – and under due care – can last a long time.
Final tips and considerations
All in all, brick pavers are fireproof, but they require meticulous attention when used for an outdoor hearth.
Needless to say, it’s always advised to exercise caution and keep a small, portable fire extinguisher around in case things get out of hand, no matter how beautifully done the project is. And speaking about beautiful installations…
Firebrick supplier and professional help
As much as these fireproof materials have the property to withstand high temperatures without expanding, avoiding cracks and (in the worst-case scenario) even explosions, you probably won’t be able to manage everything on your own. Other than the right conditions, your final product will need professional handwork.
As you may imagine, there are a lot of calculations and safety issues to consider. Your best course of action – especially if you’ve never dealt with any kind of installation before – is to hire experts in the hardscape industry. And for that, you can always contact us here at JS Brick.
We can help you not only with your fire pit project but with any other need you might have. Our services include the installation, supply, and maintenance of pavers in Florida. Call us at +1 941 586 9140 for a free estimate of your own – we’ll be glad to hear from you.
