Relaxing in your backyard with friends and family can lead to some of the greatest times of your life and it all really comes down to how livable and enjoyable you make your outdoor living space. While there are so many masonry features that can make a backyard feel amazing, two in particular work well together. Fire pits and retaining walls seem to be among the best combinations in landscape design. Here are four reasons a fire pit may be perfect near a retaining wall in Trenton, MI.
Related: 6 WAYS RETAINING WALLS CAN BE MULTIPURPOSE IN TRENTON AND NEW BOSTON, MI
Protection From the Elements
People have been drawn to the fire for thousands of years for protection, warmth, light, cooking, and a sense of community. Even though we are many generations removed from needing to build a fire to survive, this simple masonry feature can still bring people many positive feelings. If chilly weather starts to roll in, a fire pit will provide comfort. During the uncertain darkness of night, a fire pit can bring a feeling of safety. This feeling of protection is always powerful.
Retaining walls also have some essential functions that improve landscapes. While the primary function is to support the landscape and prevent erosion, retaining walls can also act as anchors for seating, housing for light fixtures, foundations for decorations, and physical barriers from cold winds. When placed right, a retaining wall can add to the feeling of protection that a fire pit provides by blocking wind and preserving the heat inside the area. This is the main benefit from the wonderful combination of a fire pit and a retaining wall.
Extra Seating
A fire pit that’s set directly next to a retaining wall can create an incredibly cozy nook for your fireside hangouts. The wall can provide seating for everyone that wants to enjoy the benefits of the fire. Seat walls can be a central component of the retaining wall itself, either as an added structure or built into the design. This permanent masonry structure will go a long way in helping loved ones feel comfortable in your backyard. When a seat wall is directly aimed at your fire pit, it makes the entire place feel like a cozy extension of your home.
Showcasing Masonry
Expert masons can come up with some truly beautiful and functional structures to increase the livability of your outdoor living space. The materials a mason chooses for a fire pit and retaining wall should be visual complements to each other and to your natural landscape and home. There are infinite combinations of masonry materials that will make a memorable outdoor living space. An expert mason can help you make the best decisions and install the materials in a beautiful combination.
Quality Use of Space
When a retaining wall is built to support a hillside, it is intended to help prevent erosion. There is, however, a fantastic side effect of building a retaining wall on a slope: it creates additional space for outdoor living. This newly available space has a special benefit of being protected by the proximity of the wall, so it only makes sense to place a fire pit in the newly annexed area. Don’t forget that a retaining wall also provides a great deal of vertical surface as well, which gives you the opportunity to let the fire light flicker against a beautiful masonry backdrop for incredible after-dark ambience. In times when a fire isn’t going, you can embed landscape lighting into the retaining wall to light the landscape and complement the beauty of the surrounding area.
Related: 5 TIPS FOR CREATING A LANDSCAPING PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU IN WOODHAVEN AND TRENTON, MI
