Classy Way To Hide A Propane Tank From Your Patio's Fire Pit
Installing a backyard fire pit can be a little Zen zone, a centerpiece of your landscape, or a cozy addition to a seating area. There are styles to fit just about any aesthetic or preference, and if the fire pit is fueled by a propane gas tank, it couldn't be easier. The only downside might be how to disguise the unattractive propane tank since many fire pits don't have an integral cabinet in which to hide the clunky thing.
Fortunately, there are classy, stylish ways to hide a propane tank for your patio's fire pit. One option is to create a tank hideaway that blends in with your patio or deck décor. The DIY Playbook opted to purchase a tank cover and use the outdoor rug they already had to make the propane tank seemingly disappear. By cutting small holes in the rug with a box cutter, they were able to thread the propane hose through the hole near the fire pit and have it come out another hole near where the tank would be placed. The purchased cover fits over the tank and looks somewhat like an end table. The only caution is that while the propane hose can't be seen, it does create a bit of a lump under the rug, so DIY Playbook urged caution for anyone trying this hiding tactic. You might want to position the fire pit, hose, and tank in a way that the minimum amount of foot traffic would traverse it.
Nail down a design and build it your way
For those who are handy with hammers and nails, Woodshop Diaries has a few ideas for building your own custom cover for a propane tank. The beauty of this classy option for hiding the fuel for your gas fire pit is that you can make it look however you want it to look. If you happen to have your fire pit located on a patio that is situated under a pergola or arbor, you can use the same wood or add elements such as corbels or scrollwork that would match the design of the existing structure.
The situation described by Woodshop Diaries involved camouflaging a larger eyesore, but their design was helpful for homeowners who might be thinking, "I'm not that good at building things." They used a really good-looking wood (in this case, cedar) and a simple fence-style design with wide slats and openings between them. Because the wood was such good quality, it didn't need to be painted or stained; it just needed a coat of polyurethane to protect it from the elements.
For a design that has a little more function and detail, Cottage Life offers plans to make a wooden propane gas cylinder cover that is three-sided. It has an additional section over the top of the tank that not only protects the tank from rain or direct sunlight but also serves as a tabletop.
Color your world and paint your propane cylinder
What if you don't want to buy a cover for your propane tank, nor do you wish to make one? There's an option for you, also: Paint it! Depending on how creative or skilled you are, your propane gas cylinder could take on a classy or whimsical look. However, before your imagination runs amok as you envision whacky designs (like a smiley face, a bug, a vegetable, or your next-door neighbor with the bushy mustache), check to make sure you're following the National Fire Prevention Association regulations for your area.
You might be wondering why there are rules about paint colors on propane tanks, and it all comes down to basic science. Because dark colors absorb heat, a tank or cylinder painted in darker shades could pose a safety risk for the compressed gas inside due both to the expansion of the gas and to the potential for combustion. The regulations help protect homeowners from the accidents that could result, no matter how fanciful the intent.
Since the containers holding the propane are metal, they're subject to rust, so before tackling any painting project, remove any accumulated rust from the tank, choose a paint that is made to be used on metals, and if it doesn't have an integral primer, start with a coat of primer. After hooking everything up, make sure you have enough gas in the cylinder, and you're ready for a cozy night by the fire.