Patio & Pergolas
Patio Heater Buying Guide: Propane vs. Gas vs. Electric
Propane, natural gas, or electric patio heater? Compare setup, heat, and fuel use, convert BTUs and watts, and learn safe placement for cold-weather patios.
Make your backyard the best room in the house.
Clear, research-based guides to grills, smokers, fire pits, and patio setups. No hype or fake “test scores,” just what to know before you buy and build.
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Start with the part of your backyard you’re planning now.
Latest guides
In-depth starter guides, with sources cited where facts matter.
Grills & Smokers
Pellet vs. Gas vs. Charcoal Grills
Pellet, gas, or charcoal grill? Compare startup, smoke flavor, searing, effort, and cost, plus NFPA safety tips and a pre-purchase checklist to choose right.
Fire Pits
Fire Pit Buying Guide: Wood vs. Gas vs. Smokeless
Wood, gas, or smokeless fire pit? Compare smoke, heat, and cleanup, learn how far a fire pit should be from your house, and get firewood tips and burn rules.
Patio & Pergolas
Small Backyard Patio Layout Guide
Small backyard patio layout ideas that work: measure, pick zones, plan traffic flow, choose right-sized furniture, add shade and lighting, and check permits.
How we write our guides
Ember & Yard guides are built from manufacturer documentation, safety agencies, and other published sources. We explain trade-offs in plain English, we cite sources for facts like safety distances and food temperatures, and we never claim hands-on testing we haven’t done. More about our approach.