Sandstone Fire Pits & Features
The smaller stone pieces in a garden often get used the most. We build sandstone fire pits, seating walls, planters and edging that tie a garden together and stand up to the weather.
In short
A sandstone fire pit is a round or square ring of split-face or sawn sandstone with sawn coping, built around a firebrick or steel lining that takes the heat, often with seating walls. Fire pits are generally allowed on the Northern Beaches for warmth or cooking, but not on total fire ban days declared by the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Northern Beaches Stone builds outdoor features in sawn, split-face and recycled Sydney sandstone, often alongside bluestone or travertine paving. A fire pit with built-in seating, a curved garden wall, a circular planter in the turning circle or a stone wall behind an outdoor shower can each become the part of the garden you use most. Like this split-face sandstone fire pit on stone cobbles.
We design each feature to suit the levels, the planting and the way you use the space, and we build across the Northern Beaches and the North Shore.
Round or rectangular fire pits in split-face or sawn sandstone with sawn coping, lined to take the heat.
Low sandstone walls at seat height around a fire pit or patio, capped with sawn coping wide enough to sit on.
Low garden walls, raised beds and circular planters in sandstone block or ashlar.
Sawn sandstone edging laid to smooth curves between lawn, beds and paths.
Split-face sandstone clad walls behind outdoor showers, waterproofed and set up for the plumber.
Feature boulders, stepping stones and stone details that give a garden structure.
Sandstone looks right around a fire, but direct, high heat can crack or spall natural stone. Every fire pit we build has a refractory lining, such as firebrick laid in refractory mortar or a steel insert, so the flames never sit against the face stone. We also leave drainage in the base so rain does not pool in the pit.
Gas fire pits need a licensed gasfitter for the burner and gas line. We build the stone housing around the unit you choose and coordinate with the gasfitter.
Soil and water against sandstone cause staining and white salt deposits over time. We line the inside of planter walls with a waterproof membrane and give them drainage, so the stone stays clean and the plants do not sit in water.
Edging lasts longest when it is sawn sandstone or block bedded on a concrete haunch, so it does not move as the lawn is mown. Outdoor shower walls are waterproofed behind the stone, and a licensed plumber fits the tapware and connects the drainage.
Recent sandstone fire pits & features by our team. Tap a photo to see it larger.
How we work
We look at the space, levels, drainage and access and talk through the feature, the stone and how you will use it.
We confirm sizes, heights and curves and mark out the feature on the ground.
We dig and pour footings or haunches to suit the feature and the soil.
We lay the stone, fit linings and membranes, and set coping and edging to line and level.
Plumber, gasfitter or electrician connect services where needed, then we clean and seal the stone.
We quote garden features after a site visit. These are the main things that affect the cost.
On days of a total fire ban, the NSW Rural Fire Service bans fires in the open, which includes wood fire pits. Outside fire bans, Sydney's clean air rules generally allow small fires for cooking or warmth, but not burning garden waste, and you should use dry, clean firewood so the smoke does not bother neighbours. Gas, plumbing and electrical connections are always done by licensed trades.
Sandstone makes a good fire pit if it has a refractory lining, such as firebrick in refractory mortar or a steel insert. Direct high heat can crack or spall natural stone, so the flames should never sit against the face stone. With a proper lining and drainage in the base, a sandstone fire pit will last for many years in a Northern Beaches garden.
Fire pits are generally allowed on the Northern Beaches for warmth or cooking, but not on days of a total fire ban declared by the NSW Rural Fire Service. Sydney's clean air rules do not allow burning garden waste, and you should use dry, clean firewood to keep smoke down. Check current fire danger ratings before you light a fire pit.
Yes. We build sandstone seating walls around fire pits at a comfortable seat height, capped with sawn coping wide enough to sit on. The seating can be curved to follow a round fire pit or set as straight benches beside a rectangular one, and it can double as a low retaining wall on a sloping Northern Beaches block.
Sawn sandstone edging or sandstone blocks bedded on a concrete haunch last the longest. The haunch stops the edging moving as the lawn is mown and the soil settles, and it holds smooth curves in place. Loose-laid edging tends to drift and sink over time, especially in sandy Northern Beaches soils.
Yes. We build outdoor shower walls clad in split-face or sawn sandstone, with waterproofing behind the stone so water does not get into the wall. A licensed plumber fits the tapware and connects the drainage. We plan the stonework around the fittings you choose, so the shower rose and taps sit neatly within the stone.
The cost of a sandstone fire pit depends on its size and shape, the stone and finish, the refractory lining or insert, any seating walls, gas connections and site access. Round pits take more cutting than square ones. We quote each fire pit after a site visit, so call 0414 319 536 for a free, no-obligation quote.
Sawn and rock-face sandstone block retaining walls, built on solid footings with proper drainage for Northern Beaches slopes.
Learn more
Sawn sandstone flagging, pavers and random flagging, plus travertine and bluestone, for terraces, courtyards and paths.
Learn more
Sandstone fireplaces, hearths, chimney breasts and TV feature walls for gas, wood and electric fires, built inside your home.
Learn moreWe work across the Northern Beaches and North Shore.
Tell us what you have in mind. Blake will talk it through, visit the site and give you a clear written quote.
