34 | October 2019
As the 46-year-old Markley admits,
outdoor fire pits and fireplaces are not
a necessary accoutrement for a renter
or property owner. But a fire element,
he said, brings something extra to a
landscape.
"Fire has that feeling to it," he said.
"When you add it to an outdoor area,
it allows you to connect to the outdoor
space in a different way. I think
that's what adds value to it. I think
sometimes people get these and think
they give them warmth. And that's not
really the intent of either one of those.
You don't necessarily get a lot of heat,
but they do connect to the space in a
way.
"Once people started using them,"
Markley said, "it adds value and
interest to a landscape that otherwise
wouldn't be there. You try to create
purpose for space. Whether it's a place
to entertain or enjoy nature, you're
adding purpose for that space."
Outside fire pits and fireplaces
can be as simple or as complex as the
homeowner wants. e customer needs
to decide whether he prefers a fire-
burning or more elaborate gas-burning
source. When trying to make that
decision, people need to know that a
gas one will be more expensive. When
it comes to a gas fire pit, the cost could
be double that of a wood-burning one,
Markley said.
But, with gas, there's the
convenience factor. You flip a switch,
push a button or turn a knob, and you
have an instant fire.
Still, there are many who prefer
to build a fire with wood. ose
adventuresome outdoor types are into
Pre-made fire pits can be
made from a variety of
materials that use wood,
propane or ethanol as fuel.
