Do I need to keep a spark screen over my wood-burning fire pit or outdoor fireplace while it's burning?
Yes — over a wood-burning fire pit or outdoor fireplace in Weaverville, the spark screen stays on the whole time there's fire in it. So much of the new Reems Creek construction comes with a wood deck and fresh landscaping mulch out back — the two worst places for a stray ember to land — that the screen and smart placement matter more here than almost anywhere.
New builds, new decks — place the pit right
The subdivisions filling in around Reems Creek and Ox Creek trade the old downtown's masonry hearths for open backyards, and homeowners naturally want a fire pit on the patio. The catch: a wood-burning pit never belongs directly on a wood deck, and the mulch beds new landscaping brings are perfect ember fuel. Set a wood pit on a stone, paver, or gravel pad on the ground, keep several feet of cleared space around it, and hold it well away from the house and railings. Then keep the spark screen closed the entire burn — mesh dome or hinged, it catches what the logs throw.
You're on the gas main — use it
Weaverville has natural gas, which makes the cleanest outdoor build a spark-free [gas fire pit](/services/gas-fire-pit-installation) that can sit safely on a proper patio, throws no embers, and shuts off at a knob. For new construction it's an easy addition while the yard's still taking shape. Extending gas is licensed work in North Carolina — the builder frames the patio, but connecting the fuel is our lane, permitted with Buncombe County and pressure-tested. Keeping a wood pit? Never leave it lit, and drown the coals stone-cold before you go in. We're just 15 minutes north — (828) 545-0525.
Older downtown homes, same wood rules
The original masonry places closer to Main Street sometimes carry that habit outdoors with a built-in wood fireplace. Wood is wood: it sparks, and a screen or spark-arrestor top stays put while it burns. Never leave one lit while you step inside, and soak the coals cold when you're done. If you're building new, ask us about an [outdoor gas fireplace](/services/outdoor-fireplace-installation) that skips embers altogether.
Fireplace help in Weaverville
We install and service fireplaces throughout Weaverville and the rest of Buncombe County — just 15 minutes north from our Asheville-area showroom.