Your gathering is full of coziness. Unfortunately, the wind comes, blows off the fire, and destroys your mood. What can you do in this case?
The most effective solution is to use a wind guard. This post will show you how to make a fire pit wind guard easily.
Simply follow the four steps below, and the wind won’t bother you anymore!
Table of Contents
How To Make A Fire Pit Wind Guard?
Wind guards, sometimes called fire guards or windscreens, are an essential addition to any gas fire pit tabletop.
By preventing the wind, they not only enhance the fire’s intensity but also act as a protective barrier between the flames and your table.
Transparent, tempered glass is the most common material used to build wind guards. This material can sustain high temperatures without blocking your view.
Manufacturers also attach fire-resistance brackets and anti-slip cushions to the guard to safeguard the tabletop and prevent sliding.
Here are the four steps that help you build your own wind guard:
Step 1: Measure the guard size
The wind guard should extend two to three inches beyond the fire pit on sides.
As a result, the flame won’t contact the glass barrier. Additionally, you want to check that the size is suitable for your burner.
We advise measuring the interior of your burner, then adding about five to six inches. This size is the best starting point for deciding the final dimension.
Step 2: Determine the guard’s dimensions.
You can determine the size of the panels as you know the dimensions of the guard you want to make.
Height, length, thickness, and shape are the four things to work on.
Height
The most common fire guard height is 6 inches. This height is ideal since it offers protection without compromising your view of the fire.
We recommend creating a guard that is 8 inches or taller for windy regions like the seashore or higher altitudes. You should have the extra security you need.
Length
Start by using the length of the fire guard you previously chose to figure out the length of the panels. Then, subtract one inch from that to decide the final size.
The corner connections add 12 inches to each end, leaving the completed fire guard one inch longer than the panels, so you have to take that away.
And apply the same rule for the length and width as well.
Thickness
We advise using 3/16-inch-thick tempered glass. You can, though, increase the thickness if necessary.
Shape
The decision on the guard shape depends on the shape of your fire pit. You may have three choices:
- Round
Round fire pits work with round windshields. Your fire pit or table will look nicer and be safer with these guards.
- Rectangle
Always put safety first while working with fire. These rectangular wind barriers will prevent the wind from suppressing a fire pit’s flames.
Additionally, they aid in preventing kids from approaching the flame too closely.
- Square
This model looks similar to the rectangle one and has the same effect. The only difference is the space taken up by the burner.
The round guard is the most difficult to deal with among the three options. You may find it hard to measure a circular fire pit.
To do it, you need a tape measure. You can find a panel with at least this width, but preferably you will add a few inches for the clearance. Then, consider this figure the width.
The rectangle and square fire pits are more popular. Hence, we will focus on these two models in the assembly part.
Step 3: Order the glass panels
Buy the four panels in your local glass shop. You need to give them details about the thickness and size of the panels.
Ask them to give you the tempered glass that can stay good against 470° too. High-heat ceramic glass is excellent at withstanding heat, but it’s expensive.
Step 4: Assemble the guard
It’s time to put your wind guard together. The instructions are as follows:
- Start by selecting a stable, flat surface for your working space. It must be clutter-free.
- Connect the bottom and top brackets to the panel’s ends with the first panel. The bottom and top of the board must be flush with the brackets.
- Make sure the screw points in the brackets come with a plastic tip so that the metal tip won’t contact the glass and break it.
- Use the same method for the opposite panel.
- Mount the end panels to the flat surface with the feet pointing up.
- After attaching all the panels, double-check to tighten all the screws firmly.
- You can use a long screwdriver for this task as it provides the knuckles with space to turn.
- Gently position the new wind guard around the burner.
- Now that you have a beautiful, enclosed fire. You can unwind with your family and friends while feeling more comfortable.
Other Ideas To Block Wind When Using A Fire Pit
The guard can block the wind, but what if you don’t have one? Don’t worry. The following alternatives help.
Choose the right location.
If you locate the fire pit correctly, mainly if it is portable, you can shield it from the wind efficiently.
You can set up your portable fire fit near a windbreak, such as the side of your house or a nearby woodland area.
These parts prevent wind, making maintaining fire on a windy day more straightforward.
If you choose this method, keep the fire pit far away from your property. Otherwise, the stray ember will cause damage.
Use a tarp
You may build a barrier between the fire and the wind by bungee-cording a huge tarp. All you have to do is to stretch the tarp and tie it to nearby trees with the bungee cords.
There are two things to check while cording the tarp:
- The tarp should be at least 6 feet away from the fire to prevent lightning sparks.
- Double check that you have tightened the cords firmly. This step will help avoid the tarp from reaching the fire when the wind comes.
Stand around the fire pit
You and your friends can build a human windbreak around the fire.
The idea will be helpful by calming the wind, even though it can not be as effective as other methods.
How to Maintain a Fire Pit Wind Guard?
Always remember that you are using a glass wind guard, which can break.
Being heat resistant does not guarantee something unbreakable. We shall warn you not to toss anything at it because of this reason.
Always treat the glass gently. There are hardware and guidelines for assembling the wind guard. Hence, make sure you adhere strictly to the directions.
Don’t approach the fire and do not allow anybody else to do so since it becomes scorching when it starts to ignite.
You should always wipe the panel with a moist towel after clearing out the debris in the fire pit. It must always be spotless.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a wind guard for the fire pit?
The wind guard is one of the solutions to prevent wind from blowing your fire. However, you can use a tarp instead if you don’t have one.
2. Do fire pit wind guards block the heat?
Yes. This guard is heat-resistant. It can entirely enclose the burner pan in a fire pit and prevent the fire from heating the space.
3. What are the benefits of using a fire pit wind guard?
This glass panel has benefits, such as:
- The guard shields your fire pit from the blowing wind.
- Sparks and embers can’t leave the fire and blow everywhere.
- The panel also protects the fire pit from debris.
- Your fire pit may consume less fuel because the wind doesn’t disturb it. Hence, you can save a lot of money.
- The glass makes your fire pit look more sophisticated.
- Children can’t throw objects into the fire.
Conclusion
After measuring the fire pit and estimating the guard size, you can order tempered glass panels and build a wind guard. Please carry out all the steps carefully, or you will break the glass.
Hopefully, we have satisfactorily answered your question. Please contact us if you need any information for making the fire pit wind guard.
We will always be willing to help.
Thank you for reading!