You might be an old hand at outdoor grilling and entertaining, but have you considered taking your love of relaxing outside to the next level?  Turning an outdoor patio or deck into an outdoor living space is easy with only a few additional touches.  In addition to your grill and grill accessories, the employment of a fire pit can turn an ordinary outdoor space into an extraordinary luxury room- outside of your home!  Fire pits are easy and fun to assemble, and are useful year-round to warm and enchant your family and guests into cozying up outside and spending time together, instead of in front of the television. 

Beautiful, convenient, and timeless, you'll be amazed at how the simple addition of a fire ring or fire pit can unify your outdoor space by radiating 360 degrees of warmth and illuminating the scenery with bright yellow flames.  GPC's fire rings are made to last!  Crafted from black steel or stainless steel, these machine welded rings have almost seamless lines and the ignition holes are drilled- not punched- which means there will be no buildup of debris inside of the burners which ordinarily can lead to annoying "whistling fires."  Built to last for years fire rings are the new crown jewel of outdoor spaces.

Once you have assembled your Fire Pit, you may want to deepen the aesthetic of your new outdoor living space with the addition of fire pit glass, lava rock, or artificial logs.  Glass for fire pits comes in a variety of many beautiful colors, and layered onto the fire ring, they give the appearance of the flames rising out of a pool of shimmering still water.  These glass pieces are both easy to use and very affordable at less than $10.00 per pound.  Catching the light of both the sun during daylight hours and the flames in the evening, the effect of this simple accessory is dazzling.  For a more natural look, you can try layering natural lava rock or artificial logs onto your fire pit.  These additions bring a sense of natural timelessness and elegance to the presentation of your fire pit. 

For even more efficient savings, you may want to use lava rock to fill the cavity of your fire pit and then use glass or crushed lava rock to top off the flames.  You'll want to layer at least 1.5" of fire pit glass or lava rock to achieve a deep and glittering beauty.  For a more in-depth description of how many pounds of crystal, glass, or lava rock you may want to purchase, click here.

If you have a larger outdoor area to accent- especially if you have a pool or jacuzzi- our beautiful flame bowls are wonderful accents that steal the show!  Electronic ignition makes them super easy to use, and- crafted to last and last- you'll be enjoying them for years to come.  A combination of two flame bowls by the entrance to a grand outdoor patio or the steps down into a cool outdoor pool brings a wonderful sense of luxury and beauty to any space.  By night, these exquisitely crafted flame bowls throw brilliant reflections onto the surface of your pool or fountain, doubling the illumination and mirroring back your investment.

Available in four different styles, these flame bowls are fun to assemble and easy to maintain.  You can also add your own personal touch by choosing a shade of fire crystal or fire glass to accent the flames and really bring out the sparkle of gas fire.

t's all about location.  No matter how beautiful your home's construction and how well-designed the outdoor layout of your home is, the most essential detail of all is the natural environment of your location.  And since first impressions are lasting, you'll want to ensure that the initial presentation of your home- either at the front door or the head of the driveway- represents the comfort and hospitality your guests will find inside.  Cast iron and copper mailboxes bring out the elegance in any outdoor setting. 

Whether you're surrounded by wooded shade or are open to a panorama of ocean or mountain peaks, the mailbox is an often overlooked detail that can really make a difference in the appearance of your home.  Besides being something you have to look at and interact with daily, you also want your mailbox to be long-lasting and aesthetically fitting to the rest of your home.  Cast iron and copper both become even more exquisite with age, and the addition of a gas light post brings an inviting touch to your home's first impression.  And GPC also offers custom-made mailboxes and light posts with your choice of finial and finish to perfect the threshold of your home.

How should BTU's factor in choosing a space heater from Gas Products Co.?  First you will need to consider what kind of space you are heating.  If you're looking for a heater to warm a warehouse-style room in which the doors are being opened and shut frequently, you'll want to look into commercial space heaters.  These heaters give out radiant heat, which means that the warmth is absorbed into the walls and other surrounding matter before being re-emitted into the room, creating a very comfortable temperature even in cavernous spaces.  For more private uses such as family rooms, you'll want to choose a residential heater.  To factor in the BTU's, you will first need to acertain the cubic feet of the room you wish to heat.  To do this, measure the length, width, and height of the room in feet and multiply those numbers together.  For example, if you intend to heat a room that is 6' wide and 8' long with 9' ceilings, the cubic volume is 432' cubic feet.  You will need to multiply this number by a heating factor according to what heat zone of the United States you live in.  To determine your heating zone, and for more information on determining your BTU needs, visit this website .

When comparing appliances such as space heaters, air conditioners , and grills, you may be wondering what a BTU is and what role it should play in your purchasing decision.  BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and it's a measurement of energy much like a joule or a calorie.  A BTU is the amount of energy needed to heat one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.  Roughly, this is approximately the heat generated by the burning of one wooden kitchen match. 

So how should an appliances' BTU count factor into your decision?  In the case of grills, you will want to look for a cooking BTU count of above 30,000.  Typically, there should be approximately 100 BTU's for every square inch of surface cooking area.  This doesn't mean that you should turn the heat up as far as it can go, but rather the BTU count is the potential for heat intensity you have available to you in your appliance.  For example, you can sear a steak at a higher BTU and then lower the heat to complete cooking slowly. 

However the BTU's play a role in the performance of a grill, it is more important that the construction is sound.  Look for grills with not only a higher BTU count but ensure that the materials are of a high quality fabrication, such as stainless steel.  You'll be able to enjoy a well-performing grill for many, many years to come.

Grilling out is one of America's favorite pastimes.  Why, then, is it saved for special occasions like the Fourth of July and Labor Day Weekend?  Cooking outdoors is a great way to shake your loved ones out of their busy routines and invite them to relax and enjoy one another's company for a few hours.  Not to mention, cooking outdoors on gas or propane grills keeps your house's interior cooler and saves on your energy costs!  Outdoor grilling is an art, but basic food preparation is easy and quick to learn, especially with the easy-to-ignite push button electronic igniter.  Plus, the cleanup is a cinch with porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grids such as those featured in the Premium In-Ground Broilmaster Grill. 

This grill also features two to three adjustable levels of cooking grids allowing you to grill, bake, and warm all at once; including a retractable warming rack.  Nearly everything on this grill is comprised of stainless steel, including a post with a lifetime guarantee.  Sleek-looking and easy to maintain, this grill gives a performance worthy of ovation every time.  With such ease of use and clean-up, the only special occasion you'll have to wait for to cook outdoors is good weather.

The difference between a nice outdoor gathering and an unforgettable atmosphere is the aesthetic of the design.  Whether you develop your outdoor space using pristine landscaping or old-world charm, you have no doubt considered the possibility of outdoor torches, commonly known as tiki torches.  Don't settle for the cheap bamboo torches that wither in a year's worth of rain, become damp and cease functioning, and give a weak candle-like light which leaves your guests squinting.  Metal tiki torches add an elegant touch to your outdoor space while giving you the added convenience of being powered by natural gas or propane.  These torches are available in permanent installations or in portable versions fueled by easy, clean, removable canisters. 

The spun copper design of GPC's tiki torch has the further advantage of performing wonderfully in coastal and salt-water climates.  You'll be amazed at the difference these beautifully made torches make in creating your backyard atmosphere, and you'll love the safe convenience of natural gas and propane powered lighting.  The bright glow from these torches and their elegant design complete an easy air of sophistication and tranquility that you'll be able to appreciate for years to come.

Picture this:  you’re holding an outdoor barbecue on your fabulous patio.  You have friends and family gathered around you, sipping wine or lemonade, smelling the slow-cooked food you are about to serve.  You take a brief hiatus from your labors of love to turn and take in the moment you created…but you can’t, because your family and friends (and you) are too busy slapping away insects attracted by the electric lights.  If only you’d chosen gas lighting…

 

Yes it’s true.  Spread the gospel, insects are only attracted to electrical lights.  Gas lighting, besides being beautiful, reliable, and environmentally efficient, will curb the light-lusting insects away from your intimate gathering.  No more insect repellant, no more citronella candles, no more frustrated guests shooing nighttime visitors away from their food.

If you’ve taken on the exciting project of making your patio or deck into an oasis of comfort and elegance, you’ve no doubt been considering outdoor lighting.  The light design of any home space has a dramatic impact on the feel of a room; it can be the determining factor between a hallway that feels lonely and impersonal and a foyer that glows with invitation.  Outdoor spaces have the daylight luxury of natural sunlight, the surrounding environment, and fresh air.  But after night falls, a home’s patio or deck changes completely.  Suddenly the focus is taken off of the surrounding land or cityscape and turned to the immediate décor. 

It’s during these evening moments that you, your family, and your guests will notice the furniture, the grain of the wood, the tint of the stain, and other details you so painstakingly arranged.  By far the most important aspect of this scenario is the lighting you give them to admire your handiwork. 

If you’re relying on a bug zapper to be efficient, I must prepare you for disappointment.  Florescent lighting is harsher, but better for the environment than halogen bulbs.  However, for the ultimate in beautiful (not to mention earth-friendly) lighting, gas lights are a wonderful option.  There’s just no substitution for the warm, romantic glow of a gas lantern to illuminate a cozy space.  For even more elegance, explore gas lights in copper finishes.  The craftsmanship is superb and copper ages beautifully in outdoor settings, adding a touch of history and nostalgia to your outdoor patio.