(919) 634-2359 Free Consult
ENC Designs outdoor living project in coastal North Carolina
Design-Build Service

Custom Fire Pits in Wilmington, NC

ENC Designs builds custom stone fire pits in Wilmington and across eastern and coastal North Carolina, including Smithfield, Carolina Beach, Surf City, Hampstead, Wallace, and Leland. Gas, wood-burning, or hybrid — every fire pit is rendered in 3D, integrated with proper hardscape, and built with stone craftsmanship that lasts decades.

Book Your Visionary Consult (919) 634-2359
The Gathering Point

A Fire Pit Is the Reason Everyone Ends Up in the Same Spot

A fire pit is the single most-used element of any outdoor living space. It is where the dinner party moves after the meal. It is where the family gathers on a cool October evening on the Carolina coast. It is the feature that stretches your outdoor season from seven months to ten in coastal North Carolina. And when it is built properly — with real stone, a proper base, and intentional integration with the surrounding paver patio — it becomes the permanent anchor of your outdoor room.

Eastern North Carolina Designs builds fire pits that are designed and constructed as part of the hardscape, not dropped on top of it. Every fire pit is rendered in your actual backyard using our 3D design process so you see proportions, stone selection, and seating layout before any construction begins.

Custom stone fire pit area with paver patio seating in Wilmington NC
Gas vs. Wood-Burning

Choosing the Right Fire Pit for Your Coastal NC Property

Gas fire pits light instantly with the turn of a valve, produce no smoke or ash, and are ideal for properties in Wilmington, Carolina Beach, and Surf City where HOA restrictions on open burning apply. They offer clean, consistent flame and pair beautifully with fire glass or lava rock media. Gas lines are run by licensed trades and tied into your existing propane or natural gas supply.

Wood-burning fire pits deliver the traditional campfire experience — crackling logs, visible embers, and more radiant heat. They are still widely permitted across Smithfield, Hampstead, Wallace, and Leland, and they require no gas infrastructure. We build wood-burning pits with proper firebrick lining, adequate airflow, and spark-safe surrounds.

Hybrid configurations give you the best of both — a gas starter for convenience with the option to burn real wood. ENC Designs helps you choose the right configuration during the Visionary Consultation based on your property, your municipality, and how you actually plan to use the space.

Our Process

How We Build a Fire Feature Around the Way You Gather

Fire Pit Placement Walkthrough

On-site evaluation of your property. We discuss gas vs. wood, wind patterns, proximity to structures, seating preferences, and how the fire pit fits into the larger outdoor room.

3D Design Render

The fire pit, surround patio, and seating zone rendered in photorealistic 3D on your actual property. You approve the design before any material is ordered.

Stone, Fuel, and Schedule Decisions

Choose stone type, fire media, and cap detail. We schedule crews and licensed trades, and lock in a clear construction timeline.

Base, Firebox, and Stone Construction

Base excavation and compaction, stone construction, gas line routing or firebrick lining, cap installation, and integration with the surrounding hardscape.

First Fire & Walk-Through

We light the fire with you on the property, demonstrate gas valve operation (if applicable), deliver care instructions, and hand over a full warranty package.

Frequently Asked

Fire Pit Planning Questions for Coastal NC Backyards

A custom stone fire pit with proper base and coping typically starts in the mid-four figures and moves into the low-five figures for larger pits with integrated seating walls and gas infrastructure. Stone selection, size, and gas vs. wood-burning all affect pricing. The Visionary Consultation includes a transparent budget conversation.

Most stand-alone wood-burning fire pits under a certain size do not require permits in coastal NC, but gas fire pits with gas line work typically do. Regulations vary by municipality — Wilmington, Carolina Beach, and Surf City each have different rules. We handle all permit research and filing as part of the project.

Yes, and it is one of our most popular projects. We assess the existing patio base to confirm it can support the fire pit structure, render the addition in 3D so you see how it integrates, and build it without disturbing the surrounding hardscape.

A stand-alone fire pit typically takes 1-2 weeks of active construction. Fire pits with integrated seating walls, gas lines, and extensive surrounding hardscape run 2-4 weeks. You receive a day-by-day schedule the day you approve the 3D design.

Round fire pits create the most natural gathering layout because everyone faces the center at equal distance. Square and rectangular pits work well when paired with built-in bench seating or when the fire pit needs to align with architectural lines of the home. We recommend the shape that works best for your specific space during the 3D design phase.