Paver blocks are the best resource available to create a safe, functional, and beautiful hearth in the middle of your backyard. As a matter of fact, the best retaining wall blocks for a fire pit not only avoid safety hazards but increase your property’s resale value and overall aesthetic, achieving long-term results. But what are they, exactly?

Keep reading the article to narrow down your options and discover how to create the perfect fire pit with no headache.

So, what are great retaining wall blocks for a fire pit?

A retaining wall is a structure that encircles the fire in a secure, uniform, and polished manner. It holds the project together, preventing it from igniting the surroundings.

All in all, a fire pit needs to be heavily protected against house accidents and climate factors – particularly if you live in a cold state, which means you’re going to make regular use of it. Adapted building materials are a primary deterrent to such issues, as we’ll see in a bit.

The hardscape industry offers many accessible options when it comes to paver blocks that withstand harsh environments. The main characteristics of a good retaining wall include:

• a porous material, which helps irradiate escaping heat;
• a sensible location, usually a flat ground free of overhanging branches;
• a considerable size (the recommended diameter for a round fire pit goes from 36 to 44 inches);
• a proper base, such as dirt, gravel, lava rocks, and paving stones.

Take a look at the 3 main materials used to surround a fire pit

• Fire bricks: Not your traditional kind of brick. On the market, you can find products that are specifically designed to cope with direct flames, such as kiln bricks. These variations are made to stand up against 1,800 °F and many different atmospheres without flaking or crumbling.

• Concrete pavers: Similarly, concrete lives up to its versatility in hardscape, being flame retardant and very sturdy. You can even find construction adhesives to complement the gaps between your pavers and transform your yard into a dream spot for late cooking and whatnot.

• Natural stone: An unexpected option, perhaps, but one just as useful. Granite, for instance, has insane durability properties, resisting climate elements that would otherwise cause cracking, rusting, and staining. On top of that, similar natural stones can be found in white, black, red, blue, pink, and even green hues to embellish your fire pit.

Read as well: Do You Need a Permit for Pavers? Know the Rules

About lid and stone caps

As you can see, heat-resistant pavers are indispensable. And if you want to further optimize the performance and design of your project, it might be a good idea to consider adding a stone cap right in the middle of your retaining wall.

A stone cap offers extra protection for a fire pit. From a technical standpoint, it encircles the hearth to avoid unnecessary damage to its inner wall – which bears high temperatures all the time. In a sense, although fire pits don’t really require a cap or a lid to be functional, many professionals still recommend their inclusion for aesthetic purposes.

These come in a variety of models – and since the cap is usually sold in its natural-stone state (and even steel), its fabrication also allows for creative decisions that embrace custom shapes, widths, and edges. Special items might cost you up to $200, though.

Nevertheless, whether you opt for a stone cap or not, some other benefits brought by fire pits include:

• a not-so-cheap installation, but amazing cost-benefit;
• low-maintenance structure, with simple cleaning and refilling;
• plenty of design options;
• increase in house value;
• coziness during the winter and family gatherings.

Pavers you should NEVER use for a retaining wall

Now that you know which retaining wall blocks for a fire pit are the best, you should also check out the ones to keep away from.

You see, it’s important to remind you how crucial heat resistance is if you don’t want to waste your budget on something that will fall apart. In this sense, we can never use non-porous pavers such as porcelain and travertine to build a fire pit or retaining wall. If you do that, the heat that stores up on the inside won’t have anywhere to go, thus cracking and exploding your project (in the worst-case scenario).

With that said, you can see how a professional crew is essential to ensure a beneficial investment. Any kind of paver installation is tricky and takes careful steps before coming to fruition – so why worry about calculations when you can leave all the specifics to experts?

Eagle Pavers is your go-to supplier!

As you can see, the retaining wall blocks for a fire pit are great additions to your landscape – and are sure to satisfy both the designer and the user within you. By choosing to create these structures with pavers blocks, not only will you save money and time but also conceive something incredible for the whole household.

As a branch of Eagle Stones, our team provides the city of Sarasota, Florida (and all surrounding counties, as well) with the best hardscape services you can find. If you live near our area of activity, why not contact us as soon as possible? Get a free estimate with our experts and start to plan your fire pit right away.

Check out the online catalog for further ideas!