Fire and ice. That’s the image that drove the country towards the trend of fire glass. The ambiance that it puts off is more modern, as the flames appear to dance over the surface rather than engulf the hearth and consume the wood that fuels it.
Though classic clears and blues, such as icy topaz fire glass, are popular, there are several different colors (i.e. emerald, koi), each with their own ambiance and ability to match your décor.
Fireplace glass is made of tempered glass that is tumbled and polished to create little pebbles that are resistant to high heat. This glass will not burn, melt, explode like regular glass could, soot, or smoke no matter how long you use it. It is also resistant to discoloration when use with natural gas.
Tempered glass is safety glass, processed by chemical or thermal treatments. This type of glass is typically used for such items as windows and computer screens.
Unlike regular glass, it is completely safe to use in both indoor and outdoor fireplaces and pits.
The safe tempered glass that is chemically or pressure treated to make it resistant to high heats, so it can safely sit in flames without melting or producing any toxic fumes. The pebbles are placed directly over the burners, and the flames snake through the gas in the stones or go around and coalesce at the center, making it look as if the flames are dancing on top.
Because they retain a lot of the heat from the flame and radiate it outward, there is an increase of heat output by about four times than the average gas fireplace.
To use, place the pebbles right on top of the flame with even distribution in a burner pan specifically designed for the glass, or in an outdoor fire pit or fireplace. You can use the glass in an electric or gas stove, but not with real burning logs.
There are a lot of fun ways to use fire glass. Majority of the time glass is used to replace fire logs as well as to cover up the area surrounding the spickets in gas fireplaces. Some people have purchased black fire glass to surround fake logs- making it look like a shimmering ash.
Many like to use the pebbles for outdoor fire pits, or table top fire pits that rest in bowls. The colored stones add a pop of color to the backyard, and make for a fun environment. They can even be moved around (if you’re using the bowls).
Apartment complexes, bars, restaurants, and hotels also use them in their outdoor fireplaces to present a look of sophistication.
You do need a specific burner when you are using glass in your fire feature. You cannot use fire glass in a real wood burning fireplace, mostly because it would be much more difficult to clean and is more likely to damage the stones.
Natural gas will provide the cleanest burn for fire glass, and allow the stones to remain clean, untainted, and undamaged. You can still use propane, but the stones may end up turning colors since the propane produces a residue that will cling to the stones.
Overall, fire glass is easy to maintain and is known for being hassle-free. But over time you may notice some dinginess, especially if you are using propane as your fuel source.
Don’t use an alcohol or chemical based cleaner since those substances are often flammable.
If you’re asking yourself this question, here are the key points to keep in mind:
There are different sizes, shapes, and colors of fire glass – including pebbles, nuggets, and gems.
A depth of 1 ½ inches above the burner works perfectly well for fire glass, but it also depends on the design of your fireplace.
Generally, you do not need more than 2 inches deep of fire stones. Anything more than that might prevent the flames from rising over the stones.
Now this will entirely depend on you and your personal preferences since each color option will give a different vibe. But there are some things you might want to consider:
There are many color options to choose from, including, but not limited to:
Whatever color you choose, fire glass is a great modern, decorative option. It can provide a way to cover up unsightly burners, and add a sophistication and color to your living room or backyard. If you’re looking to dramatically alter to look of your fireplace or fire pit (or are interested in fire logs) Total Home Supply has everything you need.
Fire glass is a special type of decorative glass that’s added to outdoor gas fire pits and fireplaces to enhance their beauty.
What is fire glass used for? Primarily to lend radiant color and texture to even the most humdrum fire feature. Depending on the type of fire glass used, it can also provide a captivating dash of shimmer as the light of the flames reflects off the glass pieces. What’s more, high-quality fire glass makes a fire feature look good even when it’s notbeing used. It creates a stylish and inviting appearance no matter the time of day — or whether there’s a fire blazing or not.
The vivid color and reflective properties of fire glass make it stand apart from traditional media like wood, lava rocks, and ceramic fire balls. While these types of media typically come in earthy shades like brown, beige, and black, fire pit glass is available in a mind-blowing array of colors — from deep royal blue to ruby red to everything in between.
So, the next time someone asks you, “What is fire pit glass?” you’ll have the answer!
Fire glass is made, very simply, of colored glass. This coloring is achieved by adding metal oxides or metal powders to the glass in order to change its shade. For example, to make blue fire glass, cobalt oxide is added to the molten glass to give it a cobalt-blue tint.
Other than added metal oxides or powders, fire glass is completely inert. This means it does not contain any combustibles, finishes, or additives that will be negatively affected by the heat and flame in a fire pit. In fact, fire glass is specifically manufactured to withstand the searing-hot temperatures of a fire feature. It will not burn or discolor when used in fire pits and fireplaces.
Absolutely not! Placing regular glass in a fire is a recipe for disaster, since it will either blacken and melt, or crack and pop, sending out sharp shards. Conventional glass with special coatings on it may produce highly toxic and unpleasant fumes when burned. If you’re looking to jazz up your outdoor fire pit or fireplace with color and shine, it’s extremely important to go with a glass that’s designed specifically for that purpose.
Yes, it is. Because fire glass is onlymade of glass, with no chemical additives or plastics, it doesn’t create any toxic fumes or smoke. This makes fire glass a sensible, clean-burning choice for use at home around your family, friends and pets. You don’t have to worry about polluting the air as you do when you’re burning wood and other combustibles. This is great news for your household — and for the environment, too.
Fire glass is so safe, in fact, that you don’t even need to use a screen as you do with a traditional fireplace. This is because fire glass is designed exclusively for use in fire. It won’t crackle and pop or spray red-hot cinders to where you’re sitting. Without a screen or doors in the way, you get a full and unobstructed view of the light show. (Of course, if you have very young children or nosy animals in your home, you may choose to use a screen anyway as an added measure of safety.)
Lastly, while the phrase “fire glass” may conjure up images of dangerously jagged pieces, put your worries to rest. Most fire glass is processed to eliminate sharp edges that can cause injury.
It all boils down to science! Fire glass acts as a permeablefiller for gas fire pits and fireplaces. This means that when it’s placed over a gas burner, fire glass allows the gas to pass through it and fuel a flame on the surface of the glass.
With natural gas, the gas is lighter than air, so it easily rises to the surface of the glass. Propane gas is heavier than air, so it requires the gas to be dispersed close to, and in the direction of, the surface of the glass. With gas fueling them from below, flames will dance on the bed of fire glass and appear as if they’re rising directly from the glass. It makes for quite a beautiful display!
Although many people think of tempered glass when they hear the phrase “fire glass,” there are actually many different types of fire glass on the market today. This fire pit media comes in a dazzling array of shapes, sizes, colors and finishes — and product quality can vary greatly across brands. Let’s take a look at the most popular styles below.
A question we hear often is “Does fire glass burn?”
While a properly configured gas fire pit with fire glass makes it look like the glass is burning — in fact, the fire glass does not burn at all. Fire pit glass is specially manufactured to take the extreme heat of the flames without melting, breaking, or disintegrating. The illusion of the glass burning is the ultimate goal of the fire feature’s designer. Therefore, it’s important that the glass be properly placed over the gas burner to achieve this look.
Sometimes people mistake black soot deposited on fire glass as burnt glass. However, since fire glass cannot physically burn, the black discoloration is simply soot from gas that’s not combusting completely. If this happens to you, it could be because your burner is not properly configured for your fire pit.
To troubleshoot fire glass turning back, check out this article here.
After you fix the underlying problem, check out this article to learn how to clean your glass to a lustrous, like-new condition.
The short answer is, quite a while! Since fire glass is heat resistant and does not melt, burn, or change color, it’s technically possible for it to last 20 years or more (wow!).
That said, in most cases, you can expect your new fire glass to last anywhere from 4 to 8 years. Exposure to sunlight will diminish the vivid color in fire glass over time, so the amount of sunlight your glass gets will influence its lifespan. For example, a dark-colored fire glass in the Arizona sun throughout the year will have a much shorter lifespan than fire glass with minimal sun exposure in northern New York.
Once you get your fire glass installed in your fire feature, you’ll want to keep it looking good for as long as possible. Here are a couple of pointers to extend the longevity of your glass:
Since it produces no soot or ashes, fire glass requires minimal upkeep. But like any decorative object, the glass can collect dust and dirt over time. Luckily, it’s fast, easy and inexpensive to give your fire glass a like-new cleaning right at home. Here’s how to do it.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The amount of fire glass you need depends on the type of fire feature you have (that is, fire pit or fireplace) and the size and style of it. If you buy too little glass, you won’t have enough coverage (or shimmer). But if you buy too much, you’ll have wasted your money.
Companies like Celestial Fire Glass, Starfire Direct, Blazing Glass and American Fireglass have calculators on their websites to help customers determine exactly how much glass is needed to fill their fire pit or fireplace. Try this fire glass calculator.
When considering the question “What is fire glass?” it’s important to note that fire glass is used as more than just filler for gas fire pits and fireplaces. The beautiful, reflective look of this glass inspires people to use it in other interesting ways!
Choosing a type and color of fire glass for your fire feature is as personal as choosing paint colors for your home. These are important decisions that require time and careful thought. It all depends on your personal tastes, your outdoor décor, and what kind of mood you want your fire feature to evoke. For example:
While some people prefer their fire feature to have one solid color, many choose to mix three or more shades to create a truly custom look. You can also have a bit of fun and create a fire glass color palette for each of the four seasons! Simply store your off-season fire glass in a sturdy container until it’s time to use again. For example, Celestial Fire Glass packages its fire glass in sturdy plastic jugs instead of plastic bags, which provides a convenient storage solution.
If you’ve arrived on this page wondering “What is fire glass?” we hope we’ve answered your question. Now that you know all about this lustrous fire pit media, you’re ready to transform your own fire feature from ordinary to extraordinary! We happy to assist you in your project, we can also assist you in determining how much fire glass you need.