Short answer: a fire pit is the single feature that turns a patio into the spot everybody ends up. We build them custom, in real stone masonry, set on a proper compacted base so they last our winters — wood-burning for the crackle, or gas for one-flip convenience in a tight city yard. Most are built right into a patio or seating-wall project. Every one starts with a free on-site look and a written number up front.
Here's what 37 years has taught me: the fire pit is where the night ends up. Long after the food's gone, the whole family's still out there around the fire on a cool New England evening. Done right — real masonry, safe clearances, a base that won't shift — it's the feature that gets used more than anything else in the yard.
What we build
- Wood-burning stone fire pits — classic round or square, in natural stone or paver block to match your patio
- Gas fire pits & fire tables — instant on, clean, and easy in a small yard where firewood and smoke aren't ideal
- Built-in outdoor fireplaces — a full masonry fireplace as a backyard centerpiece and windbreak
- Seating walls around the fire — built-in stone benches so nobody's dragging chairs around
- Fire features designed into a new patio — so the fire, the seating, and the hardscape all work together as one space
Wood-burning vs. gas — which is right for you
Wood-burning gives you the real crackle, the smell, and the biggest flame, and it costs less to build — but you're handling firewood and ash, and some tight lots and towns have rules about open wood fires. Gas lights instantly at the flip of a switch, stays clean, throws no sparks, and is the easy call for a small Somerville or Cambridge yard — the trade-off is running a gas line. We build both and help you pick based on your yard, your town's rules, and how you'll actually use it. No upsell — just what fits.
Built into the patio, built to last
The reason kit fire pits and units plopped on bare ground crack and shift after one winter is the same reason cheap patios fail: no base. We set every fire feature on a deep, compacted base with real masonry, the way we build everything — so it doesn't heave, tip, or come apart in the freeze-thaw. If you've already got a patio, we can build a fire pit into it; if the base under it isn't solid, we'll tell you straight what it needs first.
Safety & permits, handled
A fire feature has to be built to safe clearances from the house, fences, and property lines, and gas features usually need a permit and a licensed gas fitter for the hookup. We know the local rules across Greater Boston, build to code, and coordinate the gas connection with a licensed gas fitter so it's done right — not a liability sitting in your yard.
Serving Greater Boston
We build fire pits and outdoor fireplaces across Boston, Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, Brookline, Arlington, Belmont, Watertown, Malden, Everett, and the surrounding towns — from tight city patios to larger suburban outdoor rooms. Small city yard? A compact gas fire pit or a corner fireplace is often the perfect fit.
Want a fire in the backyard by fall?
Send a couple of photos of your space or give us a call. We'll walk it, talk through wood vs. gas, and put a straight written estimate in your hands — free, no pressure.
Get a Free Quote 📞 (781) 859-5304Fire Pit FAQs
How much does a fire pit cost?
It depends on wood-burning vs. gas, the size, the stone, and whether it's built as part of a patio project. A simple wood-burning stone fire pit is a modest add-on; a built-in gas feature or full outdoor fireplace is a bigger investment. We price it into your written estimate up front — real numbers, no vague ballparks.
Gas or wood-burning — which is better?
Wood gives you the crackle and costs less to build but means firewood and ash. Gas lights instantly and stays clean but needs a gas line — usually the better call for a small city yard. We build both and help you choose.
Can you add a fire pit to my existing patio?
Yes — into an existing patio or designed into a new one. If the base under the existing patio isn't solid, we'll tell you straight what it needs so the feature doesn't settle or crack.
Do I need a permit?
It varies by town, and gas features usually require a permit and a licensed gas fitter. We know the local rules, build to safe clearances, and coordinate the gas hookup so it's to code.
Will it hold up through the winter?
Ours do — because we build on a proper compacted base with real masonry. The ones that crack are kits and units set on bare ground.