Note: I thought about starting this as a general patio thread sort of like the Barbecue thread; if people think that's a good idea then maybe we can just re-name this.
It's starting to warm up, and while it's not patio season yet (probably a couple more snowfalls to come) I'm starting to think about the stuff I want to add to my patio this year.
The main thing I want is the ability to keep the area warm enough that people are comfortable for longer. Not just in terms of later into the evening, but extending the useful life of the patio. So, I want to buy a couple of patio heaters.
Just for context, here's my personal situation: I have a large deck with a nice view, but the tradeoff is, it's up high and unsheltered, so it can get quite windy. This isn't a big deal in late july, but it makes it less useful in mid-May. Combined with its size (about 500 square feet), it's a challenge to warm. I have no natural gas line. I have two fire tables that are propane-fueled.
So I'm hoping there are a few people who have some experience with their own decks and patios, even if it's more of a backyard setup. What works best? For example, the two types of heaters that are most prevalent in retailers are the classic post-and-mushroom style, and the more recent narrow pyramid style:
Does one of these heat better than the other?