Residential and commercial developers alike are increasingly incorporating fire features into their projects, according to the experts at Warming Trends. Photo courtesy of of Jim Buresh Construction Co.
“What we’ve learned is that, instinctively, people are drawn to fire,” says Voni Flaherty, the owner of Warming Trends.
The Denver area company, which Flaherty owns with her husband Tim, designs and manufactures gas fire features for outdoor spaces. No matter how unusual a custom project idea may be—they’re currently developing a burner system to spell a client’s last name in fire—Warming Trends strives to ring its customers’ visions to life in flames.
With design, engineering, and production all under one roof, the company can quickly turn around custom projects with the best quality and performance in the market.
More designers are including fire and water in their landscapes, whether as a focal point or accent. Photo courtesy of Dragonfly Ponds and Patios
Why Warming Trends?
Most burners on the market use lightweight steel tubing with hundreds of holes drilled in them. These burners create a low pressure flame. Warming Trends’ patented CROSSFIRE burners create significantly more pressure and turbulence at the point of ignition. This combination results in a taller, more robust flame that replicates the fullness and color of a wood fire. Not only does the patented design produce a superior flame; it also allows greater flexibility in the “personality” of the fire, Flaherty says.
Depending on the client’s mood or the setting, the flame can be adjusted from a sleepy campfire to a roaring one. CROSSFIRE brass burners also have industry-leading fuel efficiency. Beyond reducing gas bills and being environmentally responsible, there are frustrating and potentially expensive concerns that can be resolved by adding one of these fuel-efficient burners. The problem may start with a buried, undersized gas line. It may come in the form of a call from a disappointed homeowner, that despite pumping gas through their system, is still only getting a three- to six-inch flame. Whether it’s a gas-starved pit or a burner that’s overconsuming and underperforming, a CROSSFIRE burner may offer the perfect solution. “The reason fuel efficiency matters to our company is because it can really matter to our customers,” Flaherty says.
Every CROSSFIRE burner is made of 100% brass and is incredibly durable, rust- and corrosion-resistant, and comes backed by a lifetime warranty. Photo courtesy of Warming Trends
How Can Fire be Customized?
Warming Trends has dozens of standard burners to fill various sizes and shapes of fire features with beautiful flames. But for those who want even more, the company is prepared. Warming Trends’ on-staff engineers and design professionals work closely with homeowners, designers, and contractors to create custom systems to fulfill each customer’s vision. “The modularity of our burner systems together with our Colorado-based production facility gives us the most design creativity and liberty in the industry. That combination also gives us a very short custom turnaround time from design to delivery,” Flaherty says. The company strives to have custom orders shipped within two weeks of the order.
A custom design can come from almost anything a customer envisions, from a sketch on a notepad to a photo found online to a 3D drawing. Flaherty has seen a lot of clever designs and says one of their most memorable requests was a 20-by-50-foot feature with 14 burners surrounded by a steel bamboo forest. While that might seem difficult, Warming Trends doesn’t see it that way. “We don’t view our custom designs as a challenge,” she says. “Our manufacturing and production processes allow us to replicate almost any configuration as long as it’s within the client’s budget and local codes. You dream it; we’ll build it.”
The size and shape of a fire feature varies depending on whether it’s a focal point, accent, or used to help define spaces. Photo courtesy of Dragonfly Ponds and Patios
How Can Fire be Used as an Accent?
Historically homeowners only considered fire in the design of indoor living spaces. Today more and more people are replicating their indoor living spaces outside. Fire is an important component in these spaces, and the design options are numerous. Firepits, fire tables, and fireplaces are incorporated into living and dining areas while torches, fire bowls, and in-ground features appear throughout landscape designs. Increasingly designers are including fire in landscapes to accent waterfalls, pools, and ponds.
Whether it’s as an accent or focal point, fire is an integral component in today’s outdoor living spaces. Many such features can be completed with one of the many standard burners offered by Warming Trends. The six fire bowls surrounding the Wonder Woman exhibit at Six Flags Fiesta in San Antonio were filled with standard burners. An in-ground trailing fire that wound through preset boulders required a completely custom design. “Adding fire makes for an easy wow factor, and it’s a great way to accentuate design in many landscapes,” Flaherty says.
What Else Do I Need to Know?
The size and shape of a fire feature varies depending on whether it’s a focal point, accent, or used to help define spaces. It’s also important to consider potential limits on gas and electrical supplies at the site. “You want to avoid visions of a 50-inch firepit when you only have a half-inch gas line,” Flaherty says. Understanding site conditions early allows alignment of the fire system to them. It’s important to work with a professional installer when considering an outdoor fire project. Not only can such a professional assess site conditions or limitations, but they will also know and follow local codes when installing the feature. Working with an installer upfront avoids rework on the back end of the project.
