Gas fire pit vs wood-burning fire pit — which is better?
For most patios we build onto, gas wins — flame at the flip of a switch, no smoke chasing guests around the circle, nothing to babysit when you head inside. Wood wins on ritual: crackle, smell, marshmallow coals. Since our mountain evenings stay cool most of the year, the pit you'll actually light twice a week beats the one you light twice a season.
Why gas wins most WNC patios
Because you'll actually use it. A gas fire pit lights instantly, burns smoke-free, and shuts off the moment you're done — no embers to soak, no ash to shovel, no smoke drifting into whoever sat downwind. Our elevation keeps mountain evenings cool most of the year, so the difference between light it on a whim on a Tuesday and commit to a whole campfire production is the difference between a fire feature you use a hundred nights a year and one you use five. For scale, the Napoleon Uptown square pit we carry throws 60,000 BTU on propane — real warmth, not a decorative flicker.
What wood still does better
The ritual. Crackle, wood smoke on a jacket, coals for marshmallows — gas imitates none of that, and we won't pretend it does. A wood pit is also simpler to add: no fuel line, lower cost to build, and total independence from any gas supply. If your vision is genuine campfires with the kids on weekend nights — not a quick flame with a glass of wine after work — wood is the honest answer, and we build those too.
The part people miss: the fuel line is licensed work
A gas fire pit needs a buried, outdoor-rated gas line, and in North Carolina running that line is licensed work — your landscaper or hardscaper can build a beautiful pit, but they legally can't connect it to fuel. We can, and we permit and pressure-test every line we run, coordinating with your hardscaper so the stonework and the gas meet in the right place.
Fuel depends on your address: natural gas along the Asheville and Hendersonville mains, propane out in Fairview, Candler, Brevard, and the cabins. Either works beautifully. Call (828) 545-0525 for a free assessment of your patio.
Related questions
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- Should I get a gas fireplace or a wood-burning fireplace?
Still deciding? Talk to a real installer.
Free assessments across Western North Carolina — no pressure, straight answers.