What Design-Build Contractors Actually Need From a Fire System Partner

A Fire Partner

You’ve been here before. A fire feature is on the plan, the client is excited, and you need a system that ships on time, specs cleanly, installs without surprises, and holds up long after the crew is gone.

What you don’t need is another vendor who hands you a product and disappears.

That gap — between purchasing a fire pit and having a genuine partner for the build — is exactly what separates a smooth project from a difficult one. And it’s why the contractors who work with Montana Fire Pits tend to come back on the next job, and the one after that.

The difference between a vendor and a partner shows up on the job site — not in the catalog.

The Reality of Specifying Fire on High-End Projects

Fire features have become a standard expectation in premium outdoor design. Clients want them. Architects draw them in. And as the contractor, you’re the one who has to make the vision actually work — with real gas lines, real installation conditions, and a real client standing by.

The challenge isn’t finding fire pit options. There are plenty. The challenge is finding a system you can spec with confidence, install cleanly, and hand off to your client knowing it will perform the way it’s supposed to.

That means you need more than a product. You need documentation, dimensioned specs, responsive support, and a team that understands your workflow — not just the retail side of the transaction. Our digital resources library and BIM object library exist specifically for this reason.

What a Real Support Structure Actually Looks Like

Most fire pit companies are built around the consumer sale. The experience is designed for someone browsing online, choosing a finish, and checking out. That’s fine for what it is.

Design-build work is a different animal. Your timeline has dependencies. Your installation has clearances. Your client has a specific vision, and you have to execute it accurately.

Montana Fire Pits is built to support that process. Here’s what that means in practice:

Specs That Are Actually Useful

Every complete system comes with dimensioned drawings, clearance requirements, and installation documentation formatted for professional use. Our gas line sizing guide walks through BTU requirements and line sizing for different configurations, so your mechanical sub has exactly what they need before the trench is dug.

Systems Designed to Install Cleanly

Our Ready-to-Finish kits are designed specifically for contractor builds — a complete burner system and housing that integrates into the surround material you’re already working with. Concrete, stone, tile, hardscape. The system goes in, the finish goes on, and the result looks like it was designed from scratch because it was.

For projects where the fire feature needs to match a specific design language, our custom request process gives you a direct line to our team to work through sizing, configuration, and finish.

Ignition Systems That Don’t Come Back to Haunt You

We offer a range of ignition systems — from manual key valve setups to fully automated electronic ignition — with documentation and support for each. Your client gets a clean, functional system. You get a handoff that doesn’t generate callbacks.

A fire feature that works flawlessly on night one is the one that generates referrals. That’s what we’re here to help you build.

The Contractor Experience, From Quote to Install

Here’s what the typical project arc looks like when you work with us as a trade professional:

• You reach out with your project specs — dimensions, fuel type, finish direction, timeline.
• We come back with a system recommendation, dimensional specs, and a clear quote — not a generic price list that leaves you guessing.
• Your system ships with everything needed for installation, including documentation your team can actually use on site.
• If something comes up during install, our team is reachable. Not a chatbot. Not a ticket queue. People who know the product.

Why the Burner System Is the Most Important Decision You’ll Make

The fire table, the surround, the media — those are the visible elements. But the burner system is the engine, and it’s the one component your client will never be able to upgrade without tearing things apart.

We’ve built our product ecosystem around Warming Trends Crossfire burners — an engineered system with a proven track record in professional installs. The flame profile is consistent, the BTU output is reliable, and the system is built to perform in real outdoor conditions over real time, not just in a showroom.

Paired with the right ignition system and fire media, you get a complete system with no weak links. That’s what separates a fire feature that becomes a backyard centerpiece from one that becomes a service call.

Built in Montana. Designed for Projects That Last.

We’re not the right fit for every project. But for design-build contractors working on projects where the fire feature is a meaningful part of the design — not an afterthought — we’re the partner that’s worth a conversation.

Ready to Spec Your Next Project?

If you have a project in the pipeline and want to talk through system options, request a trade quote here. We’ll get back to you with real specs, real pricing, and a team that’s ready to support the build.