Fire Features: The Wall & Company Difference

Why can outdoor fire feature proposals vary so much when everything else appears to be the same?

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Two contractors can propose fire features of similar size and appearance, yet the proposals can vary considerably.

So why can the proposals be so different?

An outdoor fire feature isn’t simply a decorative structure with a flame in the middle. Depending on the design, it can involve gas supply, burners, ignition systems, ventilation, heat-resistant materials, clearances and integration with the surrounding patio and outdoor living space.

Many of the differences aren’t immediately visible once the project is finished.

At Wall & Company, we approach a fire feature as part of the complete outdoor living environment—with attention to safety, construction quality, functionality and appearance.
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Wall & Company vs. Common Shortcuts

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What You’ll Never See

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When your fire feature is complete, you’ll see the flame, finished stone or pavers and the surrounding patio.

You probably won’t see:

• Much of the gas line
• Gas connections
• Internal burner components
• Ventilation provisions
• Utility routing beneath the patio
• Heat-management details
• Many of the construction details inside the finished structure

Those hidden components can be every bit as important as the materials you see on the outside.

A fire feature combines fuel and flame in the middle of an outdoor living space.

That’s not an installation where we believe hidden details should be treated casually.
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A Fire Feature Should Be Designed Around the Space

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The location and dimensions of a fire feature affect how the entire outdoor living area functions.

Wall & Company considers more than simply where the feature will fit.

We consider:

• Seating arrangements
• Comfortable circulation around the feature
• Relationship to the home
• Nearby structures and vegetation
• Views from the patio and home
• Other outdoor living features
• Required clearances
• Gas access

A beautiful fire feature in the wrong location can make the patio less functional.

The goal is to make it feel like an intentional part of the outdoor space rather than something added after the patio was designed.
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Most Fire Features Don’t Need a Separate Gravel Base

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Many Wall & Company fire features are installed directly on a properly constructed paver patio.

In those situations, the patio’s structural base has already been built beneath the feature.

That means we’re not adding unnecessary excavation and gravel simply because the project happens to include a fire feature.

Instead, the important consideration is making sure the patio itself has been properly constructed and that the location and weight of the fire feature have been considered as part of the overall design.

This is one of the advantages of designing the patio and fire feature together.
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Gas Installation Matters

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A gas fire feature needs a dependable fuel supply.

Wall & Company uses appropriately licensed and certified professionals for gas installation and connections.

The gas requirements should also be considered before construction begins.

That includes:

• Fuel type
• Burner requirements
• Gas line sizing
• Line routing
• Shutoff location
• Access for future service

Planning the gas installation before the patio is completed allows the line to be incorporated cleanly rather than requiring finished hardscape to be disturbed later.

Using unlicensed or unqualified labor for gas work may reduce the initial proposal.

It’s not an area where Wall & Company believes cutting corners makes sense.
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The Burner and Components Matter

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The visible flame is produced by components most homeowners will rarely think about once the project is finished.

But burner quality, sizing and configuration can affect the performance and appearance of the fire feature.

Wall & Company uses quality components appropriate for the particular application.

A larger fire feature may require a very different burner configuration than a smaller feature.

The objective isn’t simply to produce a flame.

It’s to create the right flame for the feature while using components designed for the application.
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Ventilation and Clearances Matter

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Fire produces heat.

That sounds obvious, but it has important implications for how an outdoor fire feature should be designed and installed.

Depending on the particular design and equipment, appropriate ventilation may need to be incorporated into the structure.

Required clearances also need to be considered around combustible materials, structures and other elements of the landscape.

Wall & Company considers these requirements during design rather than attempting to address them after the feature has already been constructed.

These details may have very little impact on the appearance of the finished project.

They can have a significant impact on how it should be built.
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Materials Need to Handle Heat and Weather

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An outdoor fire feature deals with two demanding environments at the same time.

Heat from the fire.

And Spokane weather.

Materials can be exposed to:

• High temperatures
• Rain
• Irrigation
• Snow
• Freezing conditions
• Summer heat
• Repeated freeze-thaw cycles

Wall & Company selects materials appropriate for the application rather than choosing solely around appearance or initial cost.

The feature needs to look good.

But it also needs to be built from materials appropriate for where and how they’re being used.
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Integration with the Patio Matters

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A fire feature is often one of the focal points of a larger outdoor living space.

Wall & Company can coordinate it with:

• Paver patterns and borders
• Seating areas
• Outdoor kitchens
• Landscape lighting
• Retaining walls
• Planting areas
• Walkways
• Views from the home

We can also plan gas routing before the surrounding hardscape is installed.

The result is a feature that looks and functions like part of the original design rather than an object that was added to the patio afterward.
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The Details You Do See Matter, Too

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Quality internal construction still needs quality craftsmanship on the outside.

Wall & Company pays attention to:

• Proportion and scale
• Stone or paver alignment
• Accurate cuts
• Finished corners
• Consistent joints
• Cap installation
• Burner positioning
• Material transitions
• Integration with the surrounding patio

A fire feature naturally attracts attention.

We want the craftsmanship to hold up to that attention.
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Where the Wall & Company Difference Shows Up

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Two outdoor fire features can look remarkably similar when they’re first completed.

The differences may be in the components and installation details you can’t see.

Gas line planning. Licensed and certified gas installation. Burner quality. Ventilation. Clearances. Heat-appropriate materials. Utility routing. Integration with the surrounding patio.

Each can affect the materials, expertise and labor required to complete the project.

Once the fire feature and surrounding patio are finished, many of those differences disappear.

Wall & Company’s approach is to consider the complete feature: how it looks, how it functions, how the gas system is installed, how it integrates with the patio and how the materials will perform in Spokane’s climate.

The objective isn’t to build the cheapest or the most expensive outdoor fire feature. Our objective is to build a fire feature that will stand the test of time.

At Wall & Company, we aim to build you an outdoor fire feature that you, your family and friends can enjoy for years to come.