Do you have an area in your backyard or at the cottage that needs a summer time spruce up? With a Patioflame®, you can enjoy the warmth and coziness of a fire; whenever you desire. Extend your outdoor season with a Patioflame® to enjoy with family and friends. DIY-ing a custom surround for your Patioflame® will add interest and definition to your outdoor space, while ensuring an even cozier outdoor experience. You could purchase our Napoleon Patioflame® Table, but that won’t give you as much satisfaction as making your own. A Patioflame® extends the life of your outdoor living space. Here’s how to create a surround for your Patioflame® to make it part of your patio.
What you will need:
- Landscaping blocks or field stone
- Measuring tape
- Spray can of lawn paint
- Shovel
- Pea Gravel
- Rock Dust
- Construction adhesive or concrete
- Level
- Work gloves
First things first, make sure that you measure out the space where you want your Patioflame® to be installed. Versatile on many surfaces, the Patioflame® can be placed on a wood or stone patio. This tutorial is for creating the proper structure so that you can use your Patioflame® in a grassy area. Keep in mind you’ll need to consider how your backyard is set up to make room for a line or extension, depending if you have a propane or natural gas model. Have a gas fitter come in to install or extend your gas line, and to make sure everything is working properly before use.
The glass and log Patioflame® models are 22 inches in diameter, and 7 (glass) or 16 (logs) inches in height. You’ll want to have a 3-5 inch space between the pit structure and the Patioflame®. After measuring and marking the spot, measure another circle where the stone wall will be placed. It should look like this:
- Remove the grass inside the area that you measured out. Dig a trench that matches the size of your stones, about 1 to 2 inches deep. This will provide a stable base for your stone wall.
- In the center of your circle of stones, place your pea gravel and rock dust in a heap. Shower generously with a hose for 30 seconds, and let sit until you’re done placing the first 2 layers of stone.
- Take your level and make sure the first layer of stones is flat. Also, make sure you leave a space in the bottom of the stone surround for the natural gas/propane line to connect to the Patioflame®. Leave 3 inch spaces in between each stone on the first layer (bottom) and on every other stone on the second layer to promote airflow.
4. Using construction glue or cement, you can make sure the stones don’t move by putting a thin to medium strip on each stone. This adds stability to your project, but it is an optional step.
5. Once they’re all stacked and ready to go, you can firmly pat down the gravel and rock dust until level and compacted. Remember that your Patioflame® is only 7 inches in height from base to the top of the surround. You want the top of the surround to be level with or slightly lower than the top of the stone wall.
The finished product should look something like this:
For added decoration, feel free to place an extra ring of stones or gravel around your new fire pit. This will keep the outside of your surround looking clean and free of weeds or growth.
Take a look at the Patioflame® installation an operating instruction manual here. Use this for future reference and safety information.
So grab an ice cold drink, sit down by the fire, bask in the glory of the Patioflame®, and enjoy the new surround you created. We promise you’ll love it! To view our Patioflame® models and accessories, as well as the new line of burner kits, please click here. Also don’t forget to check out inspiration for back yards and outdoor entertaining on pinterest!
