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How does a fire bowl work?

People have been gathering around fire since the dawn of time. Much like summer, homeowners will continue spending a lot of time at home in the cooler months. And, they will be outfitting their backyards with the latest fire features. 

Let’s take a closer look at this growing outdoor living trend and find out what everyone should know before adding a little fire to the backyard. For simplicity and sensibility, we will only be discussing natural gas and propane options, the most popular types of fire features sold these days.

🔥 Always treat fire with respect! Hire only licensed professionals and follow all local and federal laws for fire-related installations.

What Is A Fire Bowl?

Often referred to as a fire pot, occasionally doubling as a fire table, and sometimes mistaken for a fire pit, the fire bowl is widely used for decorative purposes. Utilizing natural gas or propane, gas fire bowls can produce thick, hardy flames to mimic real wood burning. 

Fire bowls are highly versatile and can be installed on top of columns, tabletops, and even decking. The “bowl” portion of the feature can be filled with fire-resistant media including lava rock and colored glass for a spectacular lighting effect. 

Want to see more? Click here to see Bobé Fire Pots.

How Do Fire Pits and Tables Differ From Fire Bowls?

Bobé Fire Pit Insert and Perfect Flame™ Burner

Bobé Fire Pit insert with Perfect Flame™ burner

Prefabricated fire pits are very popular and are typically built-in or permanent with a circular ring design surrounding an open pit. They provide warmth while adding atmosphere to outdoor living spaces.

Bobé Fire Pits ship as completed units – ready to drop into place – and can be covered utilizing brick, stone, tile or stucco finish to match the surroundings. 

Below are some images of installed and finished Bobé Fire Pits.

 

What About Fire Tables?

There are really two kinds of fire tables. The type you might find in a home goods store is usually chair height with a small accent fire in the middle. Coffee table height fire tables work best to create experience-based outdoor spaces that homeowners crave nowadays. 

At 18” height, Bobé Fire Tables fit into this category and produce larger, more dramatic flames with Perfect Flame™ burner technology. Not just for heat, our “coffee height” fire tables offer the ideal setting for entertaining and comfort.

How Do You Install A Fire Bowl?

Installing a fire bowl is pretty simple and straightforward. Hiring a licensed professional familiar with all local and federal laws for fire-related installations is a wise choice. Fuel is supplied directly to the fire feature using either natural gas (requires a pipeline installation) or liquid propane tanks (portable and permanent options are available). 

Gas fire features give us the luxury of a fire without consuming large amounts of wood. Cutting wood is labor-intensive and time-consuming. Burning wood produces air pollution and environmental impacts according to the EPA, and can burn less efficiently due to moisture content. This could be important in areas where outdoor burning is banned.

Natural gas is the most convenient option and is great for overall savings and customers willing to install a gas line. 

The burner adds a spark or heat source that will light the gas, allowing for ignition and combustion. Fire bowls may be lit manually by opening a valve and lighting with a match. Or an automatic igniter can be installed for convenience. 

Also called direct spark ignition (DSI) systems, the auto igniter’s main function is to automatically spark and ignite the flames. Auto igniters can lower the risk of gas leaks and be used as a safety feature when children are present. 

What Is The Best Fire Bowl Material?

Fire bowls are constructed of heavy duty materials like stainless steel and copper, which offer a natural, artisan look. Powder-coat options allow customers to coordinate and match deck and design elements or other outdoor furnishings to their outdoor features. Stainless steel provides a contemporary, modern look while copper patinas or oxidizes, producing a series of colors – dark brown to green to blue – that build up and protect the copper.

🔥 Check out the Bobé Materials Guide.

Fire features can even be made of concrete. Some of the disadvantages of concrete include cracking and delamination, which can occur when it’s improperly cured. Metal bowls may have a higher cost, but are usually more durable than concrete. Metal bowls are also much more lightweight.

Outdoor Living Product Demand

If you’ve heard about the growing appeal of outdoor living trends, then you know it’s over the top right now. Some reports predict over $30 billion in current domestic sales and continued “robust” growth for years to come. Particular areas of strength include outdoor cooking, outdoor entertaining, and recreation segments.

Whether used to provide light, heat or for the occasional smores party, fire bowls create a majestic atmosphere for homeowners to enjoy year round. Overhauling outdoor areas not only helps improve their everyday quality of life but can add usable living space to the home, which can also serve as a refuge in all this “togetherness.”

Bobé Water & Fire – Made By CMP

While customers have fire bowl visions dancing in their heads, now is the time to stock what they will want on their patios. This trend is spreading like wildfire – pun intended. Get on board now to gain that extra stream of income you’ll be needing when pool season cools off (literally).

When it comes to outdoor living features in general, CMP makes some of the best waterfalls, spillways, bubblers, and LED lighting as well. If you’re looking to add excitement and sophistication to your outdoor designs, Bobé Water & Fire™, Brilliant Wonders®, and Natural Wonders® brands are great options.

You can find all Bobé brand products on the web at BobéWaterAndFire.com.


CMP has the most complete offering of designer water features in the industry. Learn more at www.c-m-p.com/imagine.

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