Fire Glass
A Color and Style for Every Occasion
Fire Glass Type
Fire Glass Size
Fire Glass Colors
Fire Media
What Is Fire Media?
Fire Media is a term used which covers all types of materials used in gas fire features which allow the burners to operate safely and correctly.
Before the advent of fire glass, the only choice of fire media was Lava Rock or faux logs. Now, don’t get me wrong, people created some pretty spectacular looking fire pits and fireplaces using one, or possibly both.
When fire glass came on to the market, though, we suddenly had a whole kaleidoscope of colors with which to play.
With fire glass, we could now make a fireplace look as spectacular un-lit in the daylight, as it was when alight at night. The fireplace could command the room decor with brightly colored glass or subtly blend into the decor of a room with a complementary hue.
Of course, precisely, the same transformation occurred with outdoor fire pits also!
Fire Glass
What Is Fire Pit Glass?
Fire Pit Glass is a high-quality colored tempered glass that is either shaped or broken into ‘chunks.’
It must be high quality because when it gets very hot, it should not discolor, warp, emit smoke or toxic fumes. All the fireplace glass on The Magic Of Fire comes with a Lifetime Warranty.
It is unsafe to use old wine or beer bottles or domestic type jars in fire pits and fireplaces. There is a risk of fumes and exploding glass.
Fire Pit Glass is suitable for either indoor or outdoor use in fire pits and fireplaces and is fully compatible with either Propane or Natural Gas.
Types of Glass Available
By far, the most popular is the irregular broken chunks style. If you imagine a large piece of glass, broken into a thousand pieces, the only regular dimension would be the thickness of the original plate of glass. You will find these in a range of colors in the Classic or Reflective listings. there are 9 color options for the Classic and 10 for the Reflective.
Pre-Mixed is just what it sounds like, a pre-mixed selection of glass colors from the Reflective range. There are 6 color combinations from which to choose.
Fire Beads are smooth, round and regular, whilst Zircon are equally smooth but irregularly shaped.
Fire Glass 2.0 is the latest addition to the collection. As you can see below, they are cube-shaped with smooth edges.
Do you know the style you need? If not, the images below link to their respective listings, so just click on the style you like for more details and all color options.
What size Fire Glass should I use?
The Classic and Reflective ranges come in two sizes, 1/4″ and 1/2″. From an aesthetic perspective, there is no right or wrong here; it is a matter of personal preference. Although one thing to bear in mind when choosing the size is that the larger styles can overwhelm a smaller fire pit, and conversely, smaller types of glass can look a little overwhelmed in large fire features.
However, many fire pit burner (standard) manufacturers recommend that only the larger size glass should be used with Propane and a minimal layer at that. Using lava rock as a base for fire glass can help with the proper distribution of gas throughout the pan. in fact, lava rock is required as a base for other types of larger sized fire media.
How to use Fire Pit Glass?
It is best to check first with the fire pit burner manufactures’ recommendation regarding coverage.
Generally, you can cover a standard burner with between 1-2″ of Fire Pit Glass. For Propane systems we would recommend a covering maximum of 1″ deep but for Natural Gas, up to 2″ deep.
Bullet Burners and Torpedo Burners are very different to Standard Burners so again, check with the burner’s installation manual.
You do not need to use only glass. To reduce the cost you can use medium sized Lava Rock as a filler. Place the Lava Rock into the base of the fire pit tray up to the top of the burner or even a little higher. Do not compress the Lava Rock. Then gently pour your fire pit glass on top of the Lava Rock and do not compress the Glass.
How much Fire Glass do i need?
Most good fire pit websites will have a fire glass calculator, you can find ours at the bottom of every listing page.
If you wish to use lava rock as a filler measure the depth of the tray up to and just over the burner height. Use the lava rock option in the calculator to determine how much you would need. Then measure from the top of the burner to the level you wish your glass to finish at. Make another calculation using that figure as the depth. The result is how much fire glass you need on top of your lava rock filler.
If you want to read more about fire glass, Wikipedia has a short article you could take a look at.
Maintenance
Occasionally, you might need to give your fire glass a wash to keep it looking at its best. A simple solution of 50/50 household vinegar and water will clean the glass nicely. Rinse thoroughly and make sure the glass is completely dry before putting it back into your fire pit.
Lava Rock - Lava Stone - Fire Logs
Lava Rock is well known for its wide-ranging use in everything from landscaping to fire pits. For more detailed information visit our Lava Rock Page.
Over the past couple of years, American Fire Glass has released some new ranges of Fire Stones for gas fires and fire pits. The stones look amazingly realistic. They are colored with an environmentally friendly ceramic stain which is absorbed into the porous material. They are extremely durable, in fact, so much so that they are covered by a Lifetime Warranty.
There are several options and colors for a unique look for your fire pit or fireplace.
Fire Logs have come a long way in the last decade or so. Click the link to view our incredibly lifelike range of Fire Logs.
