DIY Fire Table?

[Milkshake]

Hi everyone! I'm looking for your thoughts and opinions about DIY-ing a fire table for our deck, kind of like this one: DIY Fire Table

Except instead of concrete I would use a wood frame with heat resistant slate tile, and instead of propane I would tie into the existing natural gas line that is already under my deck for my grill. I'm confident in my ability to do this safely. My local city codes allow for open burning on wood decks if the fuel source is not solid (ie, no wood burning fire pits on a wood deck).

The goal of this project is to be able to socialize on our deck more often during the spring and fall evenings when it is cooler outside, as well as providing a nice aesthetic. My ideal price point is <$200 for the whole project.

My main source of reluctance is the cost vs what actual value I would get from it. I estimate that the whole project currently would cost about $320. About $75 of that is running the gas line. I can't find a source for only 15ft of CSST, so I would have to buy 25ft of it, which really bumps up the install cost and leaves me with 10ft of useless gas line. Also, the cheapest acceptable burner I can find is about $100. Buying and making my own burner out of stainless steel is a similar cost and probably less reliable. Buying a pre-built fire table of comparable size/quality looks like it would be $400-600. I definitely don't want to spend that much. Also the satisfaction of building my own outweighs the cost of my time, so this is all free labor.

I could just buy a propane tower heater like this Patio Heater for $120, but then you lose both the natural gas option and the aesthetic of the fire table.  Worse yet, I could just pick up a parabolic heater for $50 and just plug it in as needed.

Or we can just skip the whole project and go inside when it's cold. Least favorite option, but maybe the most practical. What would you do? Is it worth it? Any ideas for sourcing materials that will drop the price significantly? Would having the 2nd gas line on the deck add value to the house?

[seemsright]

For a whole $120 more than you would like to spend you will get to spend time designing and building a fire table just the way you want. Then you will spend time with friends and family to enjoy a space in your home that would not do otherwise.

Even with a cocktail this seems like a great spring, summer, and fall activity.  Hubby and I built a fire pit in the ground using some landscape bricks. But we are looking at other options that will allow us to enjoy our porch area with a bit or warmth.

[Milkshake]

I agree that $120 isn't much, but when I think about it in terms of percentage I question whether it's worth 50% more to have flames. My wife doesn't think we will necessarily use the deck any more than we currently do if we get a heat source out there. I suppose I'll probably just wait a month and see if I still want it.

[Bruinguy]

Maybe you could find a used one?

Anyway you do it you will have to run the gas line, is that included in your “new” cost estimate?

Maybe use propane during a test period and then do the gas line if it is a hit.

Do you use that space to socialize in warmer temperatures already?

[Milkshake]

Yes, the install cost is included in the $320. So $75 for the gas line, $245 for the table.
Trying propane first isn't a bad idea, especially with a pre-built table. If I do my own though it would just add to the cost to buy a propane tank and the extra line, and then switch later.
We currently use the space pretty frequently when the weather is nice enough. If we grill out we often eat outside on the deck.

I haven't even tried looking for a used one, that's a great idea! I will check Craigslist tonight and see what I find.

[Mgmny]

Aldi is selling one this week for $139.99...

https://www.aldi.us/en/weekly-specials/our-weekly-ads/

[BlueHouse]

Do it.  Or buy it. 
My BIL did a couple of things to make their patio more usable and each time he suggested something, I thought, "don't bother, no one uses that space anyway and no one ever will".  Now we are out there all.the.time. 
Now I have to convince him to buy a fire table to make it more usable in the winter!  Thanks!

[Milkshake]

Aldi is selling one this week for $139.99...

https://www.aldi.us/en/weekly-specials/our-weekly-ads/

My wife actually just pointed this out to me! I think we are planning to get it. It's a little smaller than one I would build, but for that price I think it's worth it. Especially since it looks like the tank fits under the table, that's a big plus to me.

Do it.  Or buy it. 
My BIL did a couple of things to make their patio more usable and each time he suggested something, I thought, "don't bother, no one uses that space anyway and no one ever will".  Now we are out there all.the.time. 
Now I have to convince him to buy a fire table to make it more usable in the winter!  Thanks!

Lol I hope we see the same results!

[Milkshake]

I picked up the Aldi fire table yesterday and assembled it. It's bigger than I expected, which is a good thing (30"x30"x24" I think). Also it seems very sturdy and definitely not as cheaply built as I expected. Comes with lava rocks and a waterproof cover. Good thing too, because it rained about 30 minutes after we put it together.

I'll fill up a propane tank today and if it isn't raining tonight, I'll post some pics tomorrow!

[Fishindude]

A common problem I see with these fire tables and fire pits is that the flames are 16" or more above ground, so you sit around the thing and your feet and lower legs are cold.   I like a pit flush with the ground so you can feel all of the radiant and rising heat.   We built a (wood) campfire pit alongside our deck at ground level with benches all around, it's very comfortable.  I'm not a fan of burning natural gas or LP for a campfire either, wood is everywhere and free.

[Mgmny]

I picked up the Aldi fire table yesterday and assembled it. It's bigger than I expected, which is a good thing (30"x30"x24" I think). Also it seems very sturdy and definitely not as cheaply built as I expected. Comes with lava rocks and a waterproof cover. Good thing too, because it rained about 30 minutes after we put it together.

I'll fill up a propane tank today and if it isn't raining tonight, I'll post some pics tomorrow!

Nice!!

[Milkshake]

As promised, see pics below! Pardon the mess around it.

A common problem I see with these fire tables and fire pits is that the flames are 16" or more above ground, so you sit around the thing and your feet and lower legs are cold.   I like a pit flush with the ground so you can feel all of the radiant and rising heat.   We built a (wood) campfire pit alongside our deck at ground level with benches all around, it's very comfortable.  I'm not a fan of burning natural gas or LP for a campfire either, wood is everywhere and free.

This is probably our least favorite part of it, now that we had all weekend to use it. But a blanket fixes the warmth problem, and this height lets us use it as a regular table when it's not on fire, so pros and cons.

I would generally prefer a wood burning fire pit, but our city laws prevent us from having a wood burning fire on a wooden deck. And the goal was to allow us to use our deck during cooler weather.

[HipGnosis]

If you like it, you can build the components into the deck in the future.
I wouldn't do flush, maybe 9-12" for safety, and no corners to bump into.
You could convert it from propane to natural gas then too.