Step 1
Choose the role
We decide whether the patio needs a focal wall, a privacy edge, a casual center, or a fire feature tied to a kitchen, pool or covered porch.
Fire Pits & Fireplaces in Central Ohio
Gas or wood-burning fire pits and outdoor fireplaces, built into Columbus and Central Ohio patios.
Fire features
Fire pit and outdoor fireplace builders in Columbus
We design and build fire pits and outdoor fireplaces for homes in Columbus, Upper Arlington, Dublin, Westerville, Worthington, Hilliard and the towns around them. We build both wood-burning and gas, in stone, brick or block, on new patios and beside existing ones. A fireplace gives the patio a back wall and a focal point. A fire pit keeps the middle open and pulls chairs into a circle. To talk through your yard, call (614) 488-2877 or use the contact form, and a designer will set a time to look at the space.
Fire pit or outdoor fireplace: how we decide
A fire pit suits an open patio with room for chairs all the way around. A fireplace suits the edge of a patio or the end of a pavilion, where it also blocks wind or an unwanted view. We decide what the fire needs to do before choosing brick, limestone, gas or wood. Peabody has designed and built both since 1982.
Gas or wood comes down to how you want to use it. Wood gives crackle, heat and a real fire, and it means smoke, ash and a supply of dry firewood. Gas lights with a switch or a key and burns clean, but it needs a gas line run to the spot, which is easiest to plan before the patio is built. A gas-assisted feature burns wood and uses a gas starter to light it.
Built-in means built from the footing up, in masonry sized to your patio and matched to the stone or brick around it. A packaged kit or portable fire pit sits on top of a patio and can be moved. Seat walls around the fire add seating without more chairs.
The safety details are worked out in the design. That includes the footing under the masonry, clearance from the house and trees, a gas line if you want flame at the turn of a key, and a lit path back to the door. Planning them up front means nothing has to be cut in later.
How We Build It
Planned around the chairs
We start with where people will sit and how they will get there. The fire feature, the seat walls, the patio and the lighting are designed around that.
Your proposal lists the fire feature, the fuel type and any gas or permit work before we begin.
Step 2
Plan fuel and footing
Wood-burning, gas-assisted and full gas features each change the gas route, footing, permit path and service access. Normally the same crew builds it from the footing up.
Step 3
Walk it before it is done
Seating, clearance and the path to the house are checked, and we walk the finished space with you before the job is called done.
Fire Pits & Fireplaces
Fire Pit and Outdoor Fireplace Gallery
Outdoor fireplaces and fire pits from Peabody projects across Central Ohio, from stone fireplaces under a pavilion to open fire pits on a patio.
Brick and stone fireplaces built at the edge of a patio or under a pavilion.
Open firepits set into a patio, with seating all the way around.
Gas or Wood, Clearances and Seating
- Fireplace vs. firepit based on seating style, view, scale, and patio layout
- Wood-burning, gas-assisted, or full gas operation, and what that means for smoke, ash, firewood storage and the gas line
- Built-in masonry or a packaged kit
- Clearances from the house, tree canopy, plantings, furniture, and overhead structures
- Foundation, drainage, frost depth, and masonry weight
- Seating radius, seat walls, traffic flow, dining space, kitchens, and pool areas
- A pergola or pavilion over a fireplace
- Lighting, outlets, ignition controls, and shutoff access where appropriate
Stone, Brick and Fuel Options
- Full-depth masonry, natural stone, and brick
- Brick, limestone, sandstone, and fieldstone
- Concrete or natural stone hearths, caps, and surrounds
- Stone and block seat walls with cap stones
- Steel firepit inserts and burner assemblies
- Gas log sets, ceramic fire media, and fire glass
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a fire pit or outdoor fireplace cost in Columbus?
It depends on the size, the stone or brick, the fuel and what the site needs underneath, so a price starts with a look at your yard. Our fire pit and outdoor fireplace cost guide for Central Ohio explains what moves the number.
Should I choose a fireplace or a fire pit?
Choose a fireplace when the patio needs a strong focal wall, more privacy, or a more architectural outdoor room. Choose a fire pit when the goal is casual seating around a center point and open views across the patio or yard. Our firepit vs outdoor fireplace guide goes through the choice.
Is a gas or wood-burning fire pit better?
Choose gas for convenience and no smoke or ash, and wood for the crackle and the heat. Gas needs a gas line run to the spot, and wood needs firewood storage and room for smoke to clear. We build wood-burning, gas-assisted and full gas fire features.
What is the difference between a built-in fire pit and a kit?
A built-in fire pit is built from a footing up in stone, brick or block, and sized to your patio. A kit or portable pit sits on the patio and can be moved. Built-in work matches the rest of the hardscape and stays put.
How big should a fire pit area be?
Big enough for chairs all the way around, with room to walk behind them. We size the patio from the chairs you plan to use, not from the fire pit.
Can you add seat walls around a fire pit?
Yes. A low seat wall around or behind the fire adds seating without more chairs and gives the fire a back. It is easiest to build with the patio, and it can sometimes be added to an existing one.
Can a fireplace go under a pavilion?
Yes. A fireplace under a roofed pavilion is common and needs a proper chimney and clearances. We design the fireplace and the structure together.
Can you add a fire feature to an existing patio?
Often, yes. A fire pit can usually be set into or beside a sound patio. A fireplace needs its own footing, so it usually sits at the patio edge. We check the base and the gas route first.
Do fire pits and fireplaces need permits in Columbus?
Often. Your city may require a permit for gas, footings, chimneys, setbacks and clearances, and the rules differ by town. Burning rules are set by your city or fire department, so check those too. Your proposal lists any gas or permit work before we begin.
Do you build fire pits and fireplaces outside Columbus?
Yes. We build in Columbus and the towns around it, including Upper Arlington, Dublin, Westerville, Worthington and Hilliard. Call (614) 488-2877 or use the contact form to ask about your address.
Built Work
Fire Pits & Fireplaces in Finished Projects
Peabody projects in Central Ohio where this work is part of the whole landscape.
Dublin, OH
Fireplace and Pergola Kitchen
A formal backyard sequence with a brick fireplace, pergola kitchen, stone paths, hydrangea beds, fountain, and lawn rooms.
View Project
Upper Arlington, OH
Patio and Fire Feature
A backyard living space with covered seating, outdoor kitchen, fire feature, terrace walls, privacy planting, and patio zones.
View Project
Blacklick, OH
Pool and Fire Feature
Poolside outdoor living in Blacklick, Ohio, with layered hardscape, planting, fire features, and lighting for evening use around the pool.
View ProjectRequest a fire pit or fireplace consultation in Columbus
Tell us whether you want wood or gas, a fire pit or a fireplace, and where it would go. We will reply to set a time to look at the patio.