One of the drawbacks of a fire pit that uses wood to build a flame is the presence of embers, which tend to fly out of the pit and hit anything or anyone nearby. Fortunately, you can protect yourself from sparks by buying a fire pit screen to put over the flames, allowing you to watch the blaze comfortably. One of the first details to consider when browsing fire pit screens is its size, as you need to make sure that it is tall enough to cover a pile of firewood. The material is also important to consider, though you typically only have stainless steel and iron to choose from. Finally, make sure that the one you choose has various convenient features, such as a large hinged door and a comfortable handle.
You should expect the typical fire pit screen to be made of durable metal, as this is one of the few materials that can withstand constant flames just below it. You will usually need to choose between stainless steel and iron when it comes to screens. Keep in mind that iron is usually heavier and not as resistant to rust as stainless steel is, but it also tends to be the cheaper option.
Fire pit covers tend to come in different sizes, and though you will need to consider the diameter so that it can fit inside the border of your pit, the height is also important. Think about the length of time that you typically expect your fire to burn, as this will determine the amount of firewood you should place in the pit at one time. If you usually enjoy long fires, it is probably best to get a tall fire pit screen so that you can place a few logs in the pit at once. Otherwise, you will likely have to open the screen often to add wood since shorter screens may only allow for a log or two at one time.
Of course, you can still use a shorter fire pit screen for long fires if it has a hinged door that is easy to open. You will often need to remain near the fire so that you can add wood periodically, but opening a door to toss in wood is usually easier than lifting the entire screen up each time you need to add more. Note that some basic screens lack this feature, while others only have a small door that limits the size of the logs you can fit through it. Therefore, if the ability to add hefty wooden logs to the blaze is important to you, look for a fire pit screen with a large hinged door. Additionally, most screens have a handle that is located either on the door or the top of the screen, which you should investigate to ensure that it is comfortable and long enough to keep your hands away from the flames.