Fire Features
Gas vs. Wood Fire Features — Honest Comparison
Gas is push-button convenient and HOA-compliant. Wood is primal and smells like a vacation. Here's how to decide.
Dylan, AE Outdoor Living · January 19, 2026
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Gas — what you get
Instant on/off, no smoke, no ash, no firewood storage, full HOA compliance. Beautiful glass-media or lava-rock looks. Linear gas troughs (24"–72") have become the modern AZ standard.
Wood — what you get
Crackle, smell, real radiant heat, no monthly gas bill. Restrictions in most HOAs and during EPA "no-burn" days in Maricopa County (Nov–Feb).
Cost differences
- Gas line trench + permit: $1,500–$4,000.
- Gas burner kit: $500–$3,500.
- Wood pit (no plumbing): cheaper to build.
- Wood firewood cost: $300–$600/year in AZ.
What most clients pick
In Phoenix metro, ~85% of new fire features are natural gas. Wood is making a comeback in larger lots and rural Cave Creek / North Scottsdale where smoke isn't a neighbor issue.
