Your fire pit is the heart of your backyard. It’s where friends gather for conversation, where you unwind after a long week, and where memories are made under the stars. But when the party’s over, your fire pit remains exposed to the elements year-round. Rain, snow, harsh UV rays, and falling debris can take a toll, leading to fading, and damage over time.
A high-quality fire pit cover is not just an accessory. It’s also an essential tool for protecting your investment. By shielding your fire feature, you keep it clean, prevent unnecessary wear, and ensure it’s ready to light at a moment’s notice. Let’s dive into why a cover is so crucial and explore the best options for your needs.
The Essential Role of a Fire Pit Cover
Think of a fire pit cover as insurance for your outdoor centerpiece. Here are the most important reasons why you shouldn’t go without one.
- Extend its Lifespan: Consistent exposure to moisture is the number one enemy of any fire pit, leading to water accumulating in the burner or gas line. A cover keeps your burner and ignition system dry, significantly extending the life of your entire setup. Even with advanced features like the patented WaterSTOP fitting from Warming Trends—which prevents water from entering the gas line—a cover is still required to maintain the lifetime warranty, especially for electronic or battery-powered ignition systems.
- Keep It Clean and Ready: There’s nothing more frustrating than wanting a spontaneous fire only to find the burner clogged with leaves, dirt, and rainwater. A cover keeps the basin pristine, so you can skip the cleanup and get straight to the enjoyment.
- Guard Against Sun Damage: The sun’s UV rays can be just as damaging as rain. Over a long summer, intense sunlight can cause the finish on your fire pit to fade and degrade. A quality cover, especially a soft cover, provides crucial UV protection to keep your fire pit looking brand new.
- Protect Your Investment: A well-maintained fire pit provides years of enjoyment and enhances the value of your outdoor space. A cover is a small investment that pays off significantly by preserving the function and beauty of your fire feature for years to come.
Exploring Your Options: Soft vs. Hard Covers
At Montana Fire Pits, we recommend two main types of covers, each with unique advantages. The right choice depends on your fire pit style, your local climate, and how you use your space.
Soft covers, made from materials like canvas or vinyl, are a versatile and popular choice. They are designed to drape over your entire fire pit structure, offering complete protection from top to bottom. This style is the ideal solution if your fire pit has mounded media like ceramic logs or cannonballs, or a glass flame guard, as its flexible shape easily accommodates these irregular forms.
As an affordable and durable solution, a soft cover is an excellent way to protect your entire fire pit from both water and sun damage. The main consideration is that you must wait for the fire feature to cool completely before placing it on.
Hard covers, also known as tabletop covers, are rigid lids that sit directly on the fire feature’s opening. Beyond their incredible durability, they offer a sleek, stylish look and add a new layer of functionality by transforming your fire pit into a table. A major advantage is their convenience; you can place a hard cover on the fire pit immediately after use without waiting for it to cool. We hand-build each hard cover in our Missoula, Montana facility, offering several material choices.
Lightweight aluminum is strong and easy to handle, while steel offers maximum robustness. We powder-coat both for ultimate durability. You can add a la carte aluminum covers to any fire pit. Metal covers, (steel or aluminum based on choice) can also be added to the order for Venture series fire pits.
Arbor Wood: The Premium Hard Cover Choice
For the most refined appearance, our Arbor Wood covers are in a class of their own. Hand-crafted from Thermally Modified Lumber, they provide the authentic beauty of real wood with an incredible 30+ year lifespan, creating a stunning, maintenance-free centerpiece table. We hand-construct each part, attending to every detail with precision and care. For the best fit, use hard covers on fire pits where the media, like fire glass or lava rock, sits flush with the ledge.
Your Fire Pit’s Best Friend
Ultimately, a cover is the single best thing you can do to ensure your fire pit remains a source of joy for a lifetime. Whether you choose the flexible protection of a soft cover or the unmatched style and durability of a metal or Arbor Wood hard cover, you’re making a smart decision.
Protect your investment, keep your warranty intact, and make sure your fire pit is always ready for the next perfect evening.
