11 Smart Questions to Ask When Buying Fire Glass

If you&#;re looking to liven up your outdoor fire pit or fireplace, fire glass is a fantastic choice. Its shimmery, sparkling look and vibrant selection of colors are a refreshing option over the usual brown, &#;blah&#; lava rocks and stones. You&#;ll love the way the fire appears to skip and dance across the glass&#;it&#;s a mesmerizing show! But even in the light of day, when your fire feature is dormant, fire glass provides dazzling beauty all on its own.

With competitive price and timely delivery, Tenroads sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

While you may be tempted to fill your cart with fire glass right away, it&#;s a good idea to learn all you can about this fabulous fire pit media before you buy. That way, you can be sure you&#;re getting the right product in the right amount and using it properly. The results&#;a showstopping fire feature that enhances your home&#;s outdoor living space&#;will be worth the wait!

Here are some common questions and answers to help &#;fuel&#; a smart fire glass shopping experience.

1. Is fire glass really safe to use in my fire pit?

Fire pit glass is a special type of decorative glass that&#;s used to beautify outdoor gas fire pits and fireplaces. It comes in a variety of types including tempered fire glass, crushed fire glass, fire glass diamonds and fire beads.

But wait a minute. Using glass in your fire pit&#;is that really safe?

Absolutely! Fire glass isn&#;t made of regular glass, like the type your drinking glasses are made of. It&#;s constructed of specially manufactured heat resistant glass that&#;s inert &#; meaning it doesn&#;t contain any finishes, additives or combustibles. Its color is achieved by adding metal oxides or metal powders to the glass in order to change its shade.

Fire glass is highly heat-resistant, making it perfectly suitable for use in an indoor gas fireplace or outdoor fire pit or fireplace. Unlike traditional glass, it won&#;t burn, melt, disintegrate or explode. It also won&#;t easily fade or turn odd colors. And, even more importantly, fire glass will not produce toxic or bad-smelling fumes when it&#;s burnt. This is a big consideration&#;especially if you have small children or animals at home. After all, who wants to breathe in dangerous chemicals when they&#;re trying to enjoy a relaxing evening by the fire?

2. Do I need a special kind of fireplace to use fire glass?

You can use fire glass in virtually any propane or natural gas fire feature. You can&#;t, however, use it in a real wood-burning fireplace. When using fire glass in a gas fireplace, you can simply replace the lava rocks in the bed of your fireplace with fire glass to add extra sparkle or some color. If your gas fireplace has a &#;burning embers&#; look achieved by running gas through a non-combustible material (usually vermiculite), you cannot replace this artificial material with fire glass.

3. Do I need glass doors or screens on my fire feature when I use fire glass?

It&#;s not necessary to use glass doors and spark screens with fire glass, since this media does not throw hot, popping cinders when burned. However, you may want to consider safety barriers if you have small children or nosy pets in your home.

4. Should I cover the burner with fire glass, or should I leave it exposed?

Yes, you should cover the burner &#; but only with just enough fire glass so that it&#;s not visible. This is especially true if you&#;re using a propane fire feature, since propane is heavier than air and needs to be dispersed close to the flame. Natural gas is lighter than air, so it will rise to the surface on its own &#; as such the fire glass can cover the burner to a deeper depth.

To be honest, this is the most common mistake we see in fire pit installations. The builder constructs a gorgeous fire pit, but leaves the burner rings exposed! The rings really are an unsightly eyesore, sitting there right in the middle of a bed of beautiful fire glass. Don&#;t make this same mistake with your own fire feature-be sure to provide enough coverage to conceal your burner. Trust us, it makes a huge difference!

5. How deep should the fire glass be?

Ideally, your fire pit should be filled with fire glass to a depth of 1&#; to 2&#;. You want to have enough fire glass so that your burner isn&#;t visible. On the flip side, creating a layer that&#;s more than 2&#; deep is unnecessary&#;and quite frankly, a waste of money. (Note: If you have a depth greater than 2&#; to fill, take a look at the &#;Can I use my existing lava rocks as a filler under my fire glass?&#; question below.)

6. How much fire glass do I need?

First of all, we always recommend you purchase less fire glass than you think you need&#;then add more fire glass as required. Why do we suggest this? Well, with the fast and free delivery offered by manufacturers like Celestial Fire Glass, it&#;s much easier to order an additional jar than it is to ship an extra jar back (when you consider the hassle of repackaging, adding a label and driving the package to your local UPS drop-off location).

Now, to help you determine how much fire glass you need, we&#;ve created an easy-to-use fire glass calculator. Simply enter the size and depth you want to fill, and the calculator will determine how much fire glass you need to buy. Here&#;s a tip: round down to the nearest 10 pounds, and then add more glass in a second order if needed. See our handy fire glass calculator to determine how much you need.

7. Can I use my existing lava rocks as a filler under my fire glass?

Most definitely, YES! By serving as a filler, lava rocks are a convenient, cost-effective way to reduce the amount of fire glass you need to buy. This is a hugely helpful money-saver if you&#;re the owner of a large or deep fire pit. As long as you have 1&#; to 2&#; of fire glass over your lava rocks, and the lava rocks are no longer visible, you&#;re golden. If you don&#;t have lava rocks and you have a large and deep fire pit to fill, try purchasing some pebble stones from your local Home Depot or Lowe&#;s. These make a great filler at a low cost.

8. What type of fire glass should I buy?

The answer to this depends on what look you&#;re trying to achieve for your outdoor fire feature. There is no best fire glass, rather it&#;s a design choice. Do you want to add some glam and glitter? If so, go with the 1/2&#; reflective tempered fire glass. The reflective backing and smooth finish on the glass will give you the most luster and sparkle possible. Plus, the 1/2&#; reflective tempered fire glass is the most popular of all fire glass types, so you can&#;t go wrong with this choice.

If you prefer less flash, but still want some reflective accents to add visual interest to your fire feature, we recommend the crushed fire glass (1/2&#; to 3/4&#;). Crushed fire glass will allow you to infuse your fire feature with some lovely color, which will reflect some of the flamelight on nice gravel-shaped fire glass pieces.

Another thing to consider when choosing your fire glass is that tempered fire glass may have some sharp edges. Why? While tumbling is a common safety measure with many brands of fire glass, tumbling actually dulls the surface of the glass (creating a &#;frosted&#; look) and causes it to lose some of its reflectivity. That means, to ensure maximum luster, you want to choose tempered fire glass, which isn&#;t tumbled. Un-tumbled, tempered fire glass provides a stunning amount of light reflection and will definitely take your fire feature to a new aesthetic level. But given its sharp edges, tempered fire glass may not be the best choice in homes with small children. If you do use it, take care to keep the ground free of stray pieces so that no one steps on them.

If you&#;re searching for a fire glass variety with fewer sharp edges, try crushed fire glass, whose pieces have a natural, gravel-like shape. Fire glass diamonds are also another great choice. Featuring a zircon shape with rounded edges, this type of fire glass delivers incomparable radiance with an added measure of safety for your peace of mind. It eliminates the traditional sharp edges that can be worrisome around small kids and household pets.

9. What color fire glass should I buy?

Fire glass color is very subjective, depending upon your personal preferences, your outdoor / backyard décor (e.g. style and color of your patio furniture) and the mood and feel you&#;re trying to achieve in your backyard space. Lighter colors offer superior luminosity and evoke an elegant, chic feel. Earthy colors provide a warm, rustic look (think cozy autumn evenings!). Rich, deep or vibrant colors can lend a contemporary feel to your fire feature. We did a bit deeper into what&#;s the best fire glass color in our article What Color Fire Glass Should I Use.

Here&#;s some color guidance to get your wheels turning:

There are many exciting colors to choose from, which is why fire glass is so popular. The four colors recommended here are top customer favorites&#;as well as ours!

Know what else is awesome? You can get creative and mix different colors of fire glass to create your own unique look, whether you want to blend two shades or four. What&#;s more, you can change your fire glass shades with the season. For example: Sunstorm Gold for fall, Diamond Starlight for winter, Neptune Blue for spring and Tropical Blue for summer. Fire glass from Celestial Fire Glass which comes in plastic jugs (versus flimsy plastic bags that break spill) is easy to store.

Fun fact: If you find you have some fire glass left over after filling your fire pit, try using it to add a splash of color and shimmer to your water feature or in decorative vases and bowls.

Here are a few of our favorite colors of fire glass:

Need some inspiration? Check out our Gallery of Projects and prepare to be astounded!

10. Will the fire glass require a lot of cleaning and maintenance?

That&#;s one of the wonderful things about fire glass: it&#;s relatively maintenance-free if properly cared for. If it&#;s used in an indoor gas fireplace, there really isn&#;t any cleaning or maintenance required. You get all the beauty, without the work!

If fire glass is used outdoors, maintenance depends on many factors. First, there are three common things that cause outdoor fire glass to become dirty: bird droppings, leaves and other types of natural debris and improper air mixture in propane gas. The first two of these depend on where you&#;re located; for example, in upstate New York you&#;re more likely to be affected by falling leaves, bird droppings and acorns than in Arizona. If you&#;re in an area with a lot of birds and trees, we recommend putting a stainless-steel cover over your fire pit when it&#;s not in use. This simple move will keep your glass free of bird droppings and leaves, pine needles, etc. and save you loads of time (and headaches).

The third cause, improper air mixture with propane gas, can be fixed in several ways. In fact, we have an article to help you troubleshoot and fix this problem.

If you ever do need to clean your fire glass, don&#;t despair. It&#;s easy to clean any type of fire glass using items you probably already have around your house&#;and it comes out looking sparkling-clean and brand new. See detailed cleaning instructions here.

11. I rent my home. Can I take my fire glass with me when I move out?

Yes! It&#;s easy to scoop out fire glass from one fire pit and place it in another one&#;especially if your fire glass came in a sturdy plastic jug (great for storage and transport).

Congratulations! If you made it to the end of this article, you&#;ve graduated from Fire Glass 101. Now you&#;re ready to start shopping to create the backyard fire pit of your dreams.

Other resources you may be interested in:

• What Color Fire Glass Should I Use?

  Which color fire glass do you like best? It&#;s really that simple. All of the Celestial Fire Glass options are beautiful in their own right, so it&#;s really just a question of, &#;What speaks to you?&#;  If you already have&#;

• Lava Rock or Fire Glass - Which is Better?

  There is no definitive answer to this question. The more important question is, which suits your home design and lifestyle better---lava rock or fire glass? A $12 million mansion demands the razzle and dazzle of fire glass. Whereas fire glass&#;

• What is Fire Glass?

  Fire glass is a special type of decorative glass that's added to outdoor gas fire pits and fireplaces to enhance their beauty. In a gas fire pit, fire glass conveniently keeps the burner out of sight; only the decorative glass&#;

A fire pit or fireplace can add something extra to someone&#;s home.  Using a fire pit outside the home or a fireplace inside the home can create an atmosphere of comfort.  People love to sit by a fire and reminisce about fond memories.  They are great for summer get-togethers outdoors.  Plus winter nights in snuggled on the couch are wonderful by a warm fire.  A fireplace and fire pit do not need to be sooty and create a mess.  Instead, it can stay beautiful while in use and even when it is not.

To have a truly beautiful fire pit or fireplace use fire pit glass.  This glass is made to come in a variety of colors and sizes.  The different colors can be chosen to help match the existing décor or to add a bit of color to an area that is lacking.  The glass is safe to use and looks very impressive when the fire is roaring.  It should only be used as directed by the company to ensure the safety of the user.

Fire glass is a surprising addition to any landscape.  The dramatic colors of the glass will impress any guest.  There are a variety of ways that fire glass can be used.  While it was created to be used in a fire pit or fireplace this glass is wonderful to add to all areas of the home.  It is safe to use and will make a colorful addition to plants, walkways, and much more.

Using Fire Glass

Fire glass is able to replace unsightly items in a fire pit or fireplace. Items like ceramic logs or lava rocks. Traditional items that are put into a fireplace are not aesthetically appealing unless they are burning. They are drab in color and collect soot after they have been burning for long periods of time.

These other items do not have a lot of colors and are something guests have seen in every other house they have visited. Fire glass is a striking addition to any home and many people are wowed by the vivid colors it comes in. To add something different to a house&#;s design purchase fire glass for many areas in the house or yard.

The fire glass is used as a filler for a fire pit or fireplace. It is meant for decoration and will not be the fuel for a fire.  This means it will not burn without another source like natural gas. Many people assume fire glass is similar to charcoal and will burn without any propellant.

This is not how the glass has been designed since it is to add a flare to the fire pit.  It is unable to be used in a fire application that uses wood burning techniques since it does need the additional fuel like natural gas or propane.

Burning with Fire Glass

Fire glass is not flammable.  That means it will not start on fire if someone attempts to light it.  It is not intended as the source of fire for a fire pit.  Instead, it is used as a decoration on top of the fire pit to create a more sophisticated, clean look.

To use fire glass there must be a fuel source.  This source can be natural gas or propane.  Propane does have special instructions but it still can be used safely with fire glass.  The best fire pits or fireplaces to pair with fire glass are created by Exotic Pebbles and Glass.

The company is the world’s best glass bead fireplace supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

These fire appliances will be specifically designed to make the fire glass look like it is burning evenly.  There are different points where the fuel will come out of to ensure that multiple areas of the fit pit are burning.  This will give the illusion that the fire glass has started to burn and it has spread across the entire pit.

If there is an existing fire pit it is okay to use fire glass with them.  If there is only one point of fuel for the fire it is less likely to give off that even, natural glow of a fire.  The flame will be contained to where the burner is.  It is ideal to use a fire pit that has multiple burners to have a spread out fire appearance.

To &#;light&#; the fire glass, simply use an extended lighter.  Turn the gas on and hold the extended lighter close to a burner that is running.  With the gas on the fire will light and it will stay lit until the gas is turned off.  Fire glass is made to withstand higher temperatures so most natural gas or propane fire pits work well.

Where to Use Fire Glass

Fire glass can be safe to use in a variety of places.  Using it in a fire pit or fireplace that uses natural gas or propane is ideal.  Propane fire pits do have additional instructions that need to be followed to safely use the fire glass.  The only limitation is avoiding fire glass in something that is meant for wood burning only.

Even if the fire glass is not paired with a fire pit or fireplace it can still be a great addition to the home.  With its bright coloring, it can be a great filler for plants or in a rock bed.  It will be similar to the natural rock that is already used but provide a much more interesting take on the design.  There are many ways to use fire glass to elevate landscaping.

Any area that a person could typically see rock or dirt could use fire glass.  It has been used to line sidewalks or concrete patios.  The color adds an additional dimension to the design.  Using fire glass in a garden can help add in color for the months that flowers cannot bloom.  That way the landscape always looks beautiful, even when the colder months intervene.

How Much Fire Glass to Purchase

Since fire glass is a new product to a home many people have trouble judging how much is needed to fill a fire pit.  It is easy to calculate if the coverage calculator tool is used.  This tool is simple to use.  Simply measure the fire pit or fireplace that needs the fire glass.  With this measurement in mind plug in the numbers into the calculator.  It will estimate how much is needed of the fire glass in pounds.

This makes it easy to have enough fire glass to fill the fire pit or fireplace.  Do not worry if too much fire glass is ordered.  There are many other areas that would benefit from a little color.  Add it into the rest of the landscaping for little pops of color.  There are recommendations for how deep to have the fire glass.

In a fire pit or fireplace that uses natural gas about two to three inches of fire glass should be used.  This is enough to cover the burner in the fire pit.  If using a propane fire pit or fireplace there should not be more than an inch of fire glass.  This is enough to cover the burning in this type of fire appliance.

If there is a very large fire pit to fill there is no need to buy mass quantities of fire glass.  It is perfectly fine to use a filler and top that with fire glass for a well polished look at a lower cost.  If using a natural gas appliance there are two options.  Using sand or Exotic Glass Base Filler.  These options are both safe to use with the fire glass.

There are fillers that are not safe to use under fire glass.  Fillers like lava pebbles, lava rocks, general landscaping rocks, and porous materials should not be used under fire glass.  If these materials are used safety is not ensured and damage to the product can occur, not to mention the risk of injury.

Types of Fire Glass

There are two different types of fire glass to choose from.  The Recycled Glass and the Tempered Reflective Glass.  There is a different process for making each type of fire glass.  They are recommended for use in different locations or fire appliances depending on how they are being used.

The Recycled Fire Glass is made from window scraps and glass bottles.  These are obtained after production from different agencies that are seeking to reduce their waste and reuse the product.  The glass is melted and processed again using a specific furnace for re-purposing the glass into the beautiful fire glass pieces.

With this process there is a different formula for each color of glass.  By following this formula there are many dashing colors to choose from to match different décor.  After the glass has been colored according to these specific formulas they are cooked.  When the cooking process is complete the fire glass must be cooled before it is made into the small pieces ready for consumer use.

This new glass is crushed into small pieces to be used as fire glass.  These pieces are sized to create a more even look throughout the container of fire glass.  The edges of these pieces are smoothed so there are no sharp pieces left.  This is a much easier product for people to handle.

With this type of fire glass, it can be used in a few different places.  It is great for much more than putting into a fire pit.  It can be used in the garden around plants.  Inside of containers and planters to give a pop of color throughout the yard or house.  Even put it inside of a fish tank or fountain for a beautiful and shimmery look.  With smooth edges, it is easier to use this type of glass in many different locations.

The Reflective Fire Glass is made from tempered glass panels with a mirror finish.  This glass is broken and gives off dancing reflections as the fire burns.  With this type of broken glass the edges are not finished.  That means there is the possibility to be cut by the glass as it is being placed into a fire pit or fireplace.

With this in mind it is not recommended to use this type of fire glass in areas other than a fire application.  It is dangerous to add it to other areas that could be frequented and accidentally brushed against.  While installing the fire glass take special care to avoid injury.

Size of Fire Glass

The size of the fire glass is important because of the reaction glass will have in heat.  As a piece of the fire glass is heated in a fire there is an air bubble inside that is able to trap heat.  Over the course of use this heat can become too much for the glass and cause it to fracture.  This damages the glass and will take away from the pleasing look of the fire pit.

These air bubbles are trapped inside of the pieces of glass during production.  The bigger the piece of glass the larger the air bubble can become.  If the bubble is bigger it is more likely to break in the fire.

This can cause the need to throw away the damaged pieces.  It is recommended to only use fire glass pieces that are smaller than an inch.  This is going to reduce like likelihood of the pieces becoming damaged in the fire.

The Recycled Fire Glass comes in two different sizes.  There is a small size that has pieces that are one-fourth inch to one-half inch.  The second size is a medium that ranges from one-half inch to one inch.  The Reflective Fire Glass only comes in one size of one-fourth inch.  These sizes are ideal for use in fire pits or fireplaces so they do not become damaged.

Life of Fire Glass

The life of fire glass depends on how it is treated.  If properly cared for the fire glass can last for a long time in a fire pit or fireplace.  The way fire glass is made ensures that it is able to hold up to higher temperatures.  In natural gas, the fire glass is less likely to become damaged or discolored.

Propane can cause damage to the fire glass.  It can still be used but there is some cracking or change in color that is expected.  When the fire glass burns with propane glass it may break and the color may darken over time.

While there are instances that fire glass cracks it is likely to last a lot longer than traditional fire fuels.  Since it is designed as a decoration and not a fuel type there is much less stress on the product.  There is no need to replace the fire glass every time a fire is list.  It will not burn down like a natural log would and it stays beautiful for many wonderful nights by the fire.

Purchasing Fire Glass

There are online retailers that sell Exotic Fire Glass.  Take a look at the Exotic Pebbles and Glass website to learn more about online retailers that sell the product.  When looking for a specific color it may be easier to purchase online.

If purchasing fire glass in person to judge color better, look for a local retailer.  There are many Lowes stores that sell fire glass.  There is both Reflective and Recycled Fire Glass available to purchase.  Always contact the local stores before going in to purchase fire glass.  They may not be a participating store.

Safety of Fire Glass

Fire glass is safe to use, if the user does properly care for the glass.  If the glass does become broken or damaged, by using in a manner that is not recommended, the glass is able to crack.  This can become hazardous if a person cuts themselves with the newly sharp edge of the glass.  Always take care to pick up the fire glass with protection to avoid accidental injury.

When burning, fire glass will not melt if it is in a fire that is less than degrees Fahrenheit.  The glass does not give off any toxic fumes as it burns, either.  The color and consistency of the glass with remain the same if not damaged by too high of temperatures.  Natural gas is the best to use when using fire glass to ensure the color stays consistent.

If using propane avoid using lightly colored glass.  Propane is able to alter the color of the glass which is more noticeable on the lighter colors.  The propane changes the color because it leaves a residue on items as it burns.  When using the glass in direct flame of propane gas it is best to use a dark color to hide this discoloration.

Natural Gas Versus Propane Gas

Natural gas is the preferred choice for fire glass.  It is able to preserve the beauty of the glass for longer and there are not as many precautions to take against damage.  It is the easier choice and is much less hassle to use.  However, it is not a necessity to use natural gas if a person is willing to put in some added work.

The reason natural gas is better for fire glass is in the way it burns.  When natural gas burns it is much cleaner than that of propane.  There will be no leftover residue that will sit on the surface of the glass.  Natural gas does not give off as much carbon and there is a lot less soot build-up as the fire burns.  That means more fires with less mess.

If propane is preferred in the household it can be used with fire glass.  There are a few key points to note.  Propane is heavier than a natural gas.  With this weight it will settle below the burner instead of intermingling with the air above it.

With the collection of propane under the burner it is more likely to flare up as the fire burns.  This flash of fire and heat can cause the fire glass to hold extra heat inside of the air pockets.  This will cause the fire glass to crack and become damaged depending on the intensity of the flare up.  With many flare ups the fire glass may continue to pop as the fire burns.

To help reduce this problem it is recommended to use an LP converter.  An LP converter will help the gas mix with air before it begins to burn.  With this mixture the gas is able to float above the burner.  This ensures that it stays lighter and will not cause as many flare-ups of the flame.

It is also recommended to use a pan burner system if building a propane fire pit.  This will help the propane stay above the surface to prevent flare-ups.  The goal is to ensure that there is no propane under the burner and it stays circulating with the air above it. 

Fire glass is more than a fire appliance decoration.  It is a way to decorate the entire home and enhance a landscape.  It can be used in many locations to add color into typically drab surroundings.  There are a variety of colors to choose from, so it is able to match any existing décor.  Mix and match colors to create a whole new look.

The best part about fire glass is that it is safe to use.  It is produced in a way that reduces soot that comes off traditional fire pits.  There are no harmful pollutants that come off the fire glass, so it can be used in more locations than just the fireplace.  Even when the fire pit or fireplace is not in use the fire glass adds flare to any design.

Plan to use fire glass in many areas of the home.  It does not need to fill the entire container.  Purchase a cheap filler like sand to fill the container to the top.  Place the fire glass at the top of the containers to complete the look without spending the additional money on extra fire glass.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of choosing sandblasting media. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.