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Black Lava Rock For Fire Pit

The Outdoor Greatroom Company Lava Rock For Gas Fire Pits And Fireplaces

HPC Fire Inspired Outdoor Fire Pit Lava Rock

The Outdoor GreatRoom Company Lava Rock gives your fire feature a traditional and more realistic look. Lava rocks will look even better with a log set. Black lava rocks and tumbled lava rocks are available.

Your burner comes with standard media, but in case you want your fire feature to have a more traditional look, lava rocks are a great addition. Black lava rocks are sold in 20-lb bags.

Tumbled Lava Rocks vary in size, from .75″-1.5″ and are sold in 6-lb bags. Initially, these may appear darker when you first open the package. After it is burned and the extra moisture is released they will turn more grey.

Enhance the look of your fire pit even further by adding black or tumbled lava rocks!


American Fire Glass Fire Pit Lava Rocks

American Fire Glasss black lava rocks for fire pits are a simple product with a 76% 5-star rating among customers.

These 1/2-1 inch sized rocks are a fitting top layer over finer rocks in a propane or gas fire pit.

They will retain the heat needed for sustaining the flame. With distance from the bottom of the fire pit, there will be no risk of overheating.

American Fire Glass also sells them at a reasonable price and quantity, so you can use the ten pounds of rocks you get with the order for other purposes around the home.

Some customers report chiseling them to make them fit for other purposes too, which is easier to do with the medium rocks they produce.


Smaller amounts could be used with small portable propane fire pits.

How Do You Maintain Lava Rock In A Fire Pit

Lava rocks are low maintenance and last for 3+ years depending on how often you use your fire pit. However, regularly moving lava rock around can shorten its life span as it may cause it break into smaller pieces.

As mentioned earlier lava rock will break down with use creating a dust which will settle into the burner pan. We recommend that at the start of each season you remove the lava rock and vacuum or sweep the dust that has accumulated, and vacuum the burner as well to make sure the gas ports stay clear. Then put back the lava rock for continued use. Always cover your fire pit when it is not in use.

Now that you know how to arrange your lava rocks into your gas fire pits, you can now enjoy the beauty of your gas fire pit with a full rich flame!

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Lava Rock Vs Fire Glass

Both of these materials have gained fire-pit owners attention because they conduct heat well and they are durable.

With the increasing use of both, a debate has sparked about which is better, and to help you decide which better suits your preferences, we will explain some similarities and differences.

Lava rocks are naturally occurring pumice stones formed from cooled lava, but fire glass is artificially manufactured.

Fire glass is a tempered or fire-certified glass that has been put through an intense heating and rapid re-cooling process. This process gives it its strength and high heat resistance it has no risk of exploding or shattering when exposed to fires.

Fire glass, since it comes in more uniform, regulated shapes than lava rocks, can usually distribute the heat of a fire pit more evenly.

Additionally, the reflectivity and albedo effect from its surfaces make the heating process more efficient. In other words, heat bounces off the glass and re-enters the fire, keeping the flame going while using less gas.


Some homeowners enjoy the aesthetic appeal of fire glass and how it adds extra shine or an element of beauty to a fire. Others prefer the more rustic look of lava rocks, though lava rocks may not heat as evenly as fire glass.

Fire glass has one difference that stands out for many of its would-be users: its price.

You may need up to 40 pounds of fire glass to fill your pit, which can cost over $80.

Is Lava Rock Safe For Fire Pits

American Fire Glass Black Lava Fire Rock for Fire Pits

I thought this might be a good time to include this mention. Fire pit lava rock can rupture when heated if it is not totally dry and force hot pieces of rock from your fire pit.

If you cover your fire pit regularly this shouldn’t be an issue for you. If not, allow the wet lava rock in your fire pit to completely dry before your next burn.

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Where To Buy Fire Lava Rock

You can pick up lava rocks for fire pit use at your local outdoor store, big-box hardware store , or order online. Colorwise, red and black lava rocks are the most common options available.

Make sure you’ve done your fire pit measurements and plugged them into a fire pit lava rock calculator, like this one from American Fireglass, when you are ready to pick some up or order for home delivery.

By the way, use the Backyard Toastypromo code: AFG-S04KH, to get 30% off your fireglass order at American Fireglass.

Venetian Princess Fire Pit Lava Rocks

Venetian Princesss fire pit lava rocks have one complaint that seems to follow them: they are smaller than advertised.

Despite their smaller size, they still fulfill their function well, but another small group of customers reported experiencing explosions and pops again.


Such an experience is likely due to using wet lava rocks, and you can avoid it by assuring your rocks for the outdoor fire pit are dry.

Other than this complaint, Venetian Princess rocks fill a fire pit well and come in two styles: red or black.

You can get them in either 10 or 40-lb sizes just be aware they may be smaller than advertised.

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Fire Pit Essentials Lava Rocks

Fire Pit Essentials is a trusted brand that has been around since 2014.


They produce several products to improve the function of your fire pit while making it more aesthetically pleasing. Thus, it is no surprise they manufacture their line of heat-resistant rocks for a fire pit.

Customers almost universally attest to the excellent function of Fire Pit Essentials fire pit rocks.

Users report they retain heat to keep flames going while protecting the bottom of your fire pit and assisting with drainage. Ordering them gets you 10 pounds of rocks in the size of your choice.

Size options include:

Just be aware that though reviews for these indicate they are generally good propane fire pit rocks or gas fire pit rocks, you will have to take some steps to prepare them.

Some reviews indicate that they will produce an unpleasant smoke if not rinsed, which you can avoid by rinsing them and letting them thoroughly dry.

A few customers indicate that quality diminished in larger orders of these rocks and that the fire pit rocks were even of such low quality that they exploded when heated. Though it is a slim possibility, its chances are above zero, so prepare your yard and cover your fire pit when it is not in use.

But we also have an explanation for how this may have happened, which you will see if you keep reading.

How To Add Lava Rock To Fire Pits

GAS FIRE PIT REVIEW AND DEMONSTRATION | OUTDOOR PROPANE LAVA ROCK FIRE PIT

How you add your lava rocks to your fire pit will depend on how you wish to create your fire and the size of your fire pit, but the process is usually simple.

First, you will rinse your lava rocks in your backyard with your hose.

We have mentioned this several times but now we can get to the explanation you are washing the dust off of them because any potential dust will cause smoke and get jammed in the pipes of your fire pit.

Rinse them thoroughly to assure that you also get rid of any smaller pieces that can obstruct the jets or the pipes.

After taking these precautionary steps, and leaving them to dry in the sun for about six hours, then you can begin arranging them in your fire pit.

If you plan to burn wood above your lava rocks, you will arrange them so that room remains. This layer should be about 4-5 inches deep and will give the wood ample room to burn and keep your lava rocks heated.

If you only use lava rocks, you will pursue a different arrangement. At the least, you will want to fill your pit until the rock level covers or reaches the fire ring of your pit.

If you want to fill it with more rocks, there are also methods of doing this. Distribute the rocks evenly as you pour them to create a safe and even distribution of heat and flame.

If you buy lava rocks in bulk and want to use all of them to almost overfill the pit, there is also an arrangement for you.

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What Makes Lava Fire Pit Rocks Unique

Lava rock, or basalt as it is commonly referred to, has natural heat insulation and retention properties which provide the bulk of the benefits in gas fire pit use.

In addition to being good at handling the heat, lava rock can at the same be both water-resistant and aid in drainage providing weatherproofing for fire pits and their critical components.

Fun Fact: In industry, basalt is melted down and spun into fibers used in home insulation products. In addition to being an efficient insulator, this fiber is fireproof, a major plus for obvious reasons.

Lava Rocks For Mulch On The Garden

In addition, they can also be used in the garden as mulch. The lava absorbs the heat during the day and releases it at night and is excellent for weed suppression. It also slows the evaporation of moisture from your soil. Lava Rocks are available in Ton bags by request, Please get in contact for a quote: sales@blackrockgrill.com

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How Much Lava Rock Do I Need For My Fire Pit

For your gas fire pit to work the way it was designed you’ll need to get the amount of lava rock you put in the burner tray right.

Most gas fire pits need 2-4 inches of lava rock but your situation may be different. Consult your user’s manual for specifics.

Typically, you’ll want to use a smaller size of lava rock as the first layer you put in the fire pit. This will provide a base layer that just covers the burner, filling in gaps and giving both support and thermal protection.

This smaller size lava rock layer fits together tighter providing a solid foundation for the next layer which can be comprised of larger fire pit rocks, fire glass, ornamental fire pit stones, etc.

Pro Tip: Regularly check your fire pit’s drain holes to ensure they are not blocked and water is able to flow freely. Excess water pooling at the bottom of a gas fire pit’s burner pan will keep the lava rock base layer from drying. BT

Although the fire pit rock in this layer is smaller, the jagged, porous nature of lava rock is conducive to good drainage.

Hiland Fire Pit Glass

Black Lava Rock

This fire pit media solution may be the most interesting of the group, and it has the most ratings for a single product out of them, topping 12,000.

With several color choices that range from clear to black, they give a fire pit a beautiful appearance, particularly when choosing blue. Additionally, very rarely do customers report issues with broken or popping glass, though there are reviews that describe these problems.

The most common complaint is one that is easily resolved. With high temperatures, the flames will sometimes leave a black coating on some of the rocks.

This is normal and does not pose a danger. If you follow rinsing and washing protocols for them, this black coating goes away.

Among alternatives to lava rocks, fire pit glass is likely your best choice, though it may cost a little more than bulk quantities of lava rocks.

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Chimineas And Fire Pits Using Lava Rocks

Using lava rocks in a Chiminea insulates and protects. It is simple to do, just place a layer of rock into the potbelly of the chiminea and then build your fire on top. This protects the clay from direct heat and adds another layer of insulation to generate more heat from your chiminea. The rocks can also be used in a smoker, check out The Smoker Guy’s website for more information.

Lava rocks are fantastic in fire pits. Functionally, fire pit lava rock provides a semi-permeable barrier that protects fire pit burner components from the elements, facilitates the even distribution of flame and the resulting heat, and shields the gas burner from direct exposure to the surface flame. Cosmetically, lava rock is a clean, low-maintenance, durable, and natural-looking fire pit surface media that retains its natural colour under a combination of high-heat and potentially harsh weather conditions.

Midwest Hearth Lava Stones For Fire Pit

Midwest Hearths black lava stones have a lovely rounded appearance, giving them an aesthetic edge over other types of fire pit rocks.

But for fulfilling the same function, and sold in the same 10-lb sets, they are more expensive, up to double the cost of previously mentioned lava rocks.

Though reviews about their ability to keep a fire going are raving, about 20 percent of customers mention that the rocks are not as big as advertised. Many bags are often of smaller rocks and fail to fill a fire pit.

While these lava stones for a fire pit might be a great top layer above lava gravel, given the cost and inconsistent sizing, we might recommend you buy other products to fill your fire pit table or bowl.

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Secondary Benefits Of Using Lava Rock

  • It’s Inexpensive. For what you get out of them, gas fire pit rocks are cheap, about $2-3/lb.
  • Durable Natural Color/Look. Considering all of the qualities of lava rock I’ve mentioned so far, it no surprise that it’s so durable. Not only will it do its job for a long time, but it should also keep its natural color with normal use.

Why Use Fire Pit Lava Rock

Garden Reflections 50,000 BTU Gas Fire Pit Table w/ Lava Rocks on QVC

Choosing the suitable fire pit media these days is, fortunately, something you don’t necessarily get wrong.

With so many solid options available in the fire pit market, it really just comes down to your personal preferences.

In this post, I’m going to explore what makes fire pit lava rock the high-performing media that’s the immediate go-to option for thousands of backyard aficionados and contractors/installers.

Functionally, fire pit lava rock provides a semipermeable barrier that protects fire pit burner components from the elements, facilitates the even distribution of flame and the resulting heat, and shields the gas burner from direct exposure to the surface flame. Cosmetically, lava rock is a clean, low-maintenance, durable, and natural-looking fire pit surface media that retains its natural color under a combination of high-heat and potentially harsh weather conditions.

In addition to the above, fire pit lava rock is an extremely cost-effective option due not only to the fact that it lasts but that it really doesn’t cost that much to use and replace as needed.

As we move on, I’ll get into it a little more on how fire pit lava rock’s unique makeup complements the fire pit’s burner, its heat-resistant properties, how to determine how much you need and why, and how you can use it in combination with fire glass if you are looking to add a little color.

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Primary Benefits Of Using Lava Rock

  • Fire Pit Burner Protection from the Elements. As mentioned above, a solid 3-4 in. layer of lava rock in a fire pit can act as a shield for your fire pit’s burner during a variety of weather conditions while helping water move to the fire pit’s own drainage system.
  • Burner Shielding from Surface Flame. When a gas fire pit is lit, the gas fuels the flame on the surface by moving through gaps in the fire pit rocks. At this point, the majority of the flame and heat are on the surface. The natural insulating qualities of lava rock allow it to shield the burner from the intense heat up top, making it last longer and perform better over time.
  • Flame and Heat Distribution. One of the primary reasons lava rock is used in barbecue grills is because of its ability to evenly distribute and retain heat. If you’ve ever grilled before, hopefully, you haven’t experienced cold spots on your grill where the heat distribution was uneven. Lava rocks for propane fire pit use serve the same purpose provide a more even heat throughout the fire pit burner pan.

What Is Lava Rock

Lava rock is a naturally occurring stone formed from the cooled lava of an erupted volcano.

Known in geology as igneous or volcanic rocks, they form when lava cools quickly in the open air. This cooling process produces their porous surface and the frequent presence of other heat-resistant materials or minerals.

The most common Lava rock and the one used for fire pits is none other than pumice stones.

Pumice stones, commercially called lava rocks, are among the most versatile naturally occurring rocks for household purposes.

Pumice stones can:

  • Help remove impurities from water
  • Help trap water for your plants
  • Amplify the abilities of your grill

Most importantly for our purposes, they can advance the capability of your fire pit.

Lava rocks are generally more sustainable materials to use for a propane or gas fire pit because they can be used several times, unlike wood or charcoal. Wood or charcoal will only burn once and then cannot be used again.

Since they were already formed from extreme temperatures, lava rocks are naturally heat-resistant and will not burn when exposed to the high temperatures of a propane-fueled fire pit.

Lava rocks can also protect the interior surfaces of your pit from damage due to extreme temperatures.

Thats because though they retain heat, they still keep the flame above them away from the interior of the fire pit. Thus, they have become a choice material for many fire-pit owners who seek to use more durable, reliable materials.

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