Build your own Fire Pit if you believe that your backyard is not the gathering place you would like it to be. Then ask your friends and family to come over for weekend gatherings. There are many types of fire pits. Most are simply an outdoor spot to build a fire and enjoy the fellowship of your family and friends.
Anyone may build a fire pit! A Fire pit creation is not that difficult. You may build a fire pit, from easily accessible supplies, providing you have the room for it in your backyard or garden! How you put together a fire pit depends to a certain extent on the site it will be placed and the supplies you have available.
If you aren’t much of a “do-it-yourselfer,” don’t fret! Some of these are pretty easy to make. Or, you may find pre-made and portable fire pits which are simple, work well and are the just the thing for many homes. Here’s how you may build a fire pit in your own backyard and cook hot dogs that very same evening.
Step 1:
Decide on a site that isn’t close to anything that could catch fire from a spark or ember. A level location is excellent, but the design may contain a slight slope as well. Be sure there aren’t any underground wires, cables, or pipes in your chosen area.
Step 2:
The easiest way to measure for your pit, benches and the garden area is to work outward from the center point. Use a stake and a string marked with dimensions for each of the concentric circles for your pit, benches, and garden. Mark each with paint, chalk or flour.
Step 3:
Remove the sod inside the inner circle and apply a pre-emergent herbicide to keep grass from growing back.
Step 4:
Depending on the material you are using, dig out the hole to a depth of about 6 inches to 1 foot (keep the sides as straight as possible). Make sure the base row of bricks or block will end at surface level.
Step 5:
To help drainage, dig a hole about 6 or 8 inches square and 12 inches deep in the center of your fire pit excavation.
Step 6:
Pour in pea gravel filling in the hole and the pit. Follow up with bags of play sand or add several inches of desiccated gravel to the floor of the fire pit. This provides a nonflammable surface for the wood to sit on. Since it is porous, it will allow water to filter through and not sit on the surface. Tamp in place for a smooth surface.
Step 7:
• For edging, consider stacking pavers. Surround the fire pit with at least two stacked rows of concrete pavers. Dry stack the pavers to make it easy to replace any that might break. Don’t use adhesive to hold the pavers together, as it will melt and give off fumes that could be toxic
• Or, use Bricks. Install the first row of bricks according to manufacturer’s instructions. This row has to be level from front to back and side to side since it determines the stability of the entire pit. Install the second row of bricks, staggering them so the vertical joints are offset.
• Firebrick added to the inside ring may be sprayed with black stove paint.
Step 8:
When the fire pit walls are in place, backfill with dirt, gravel, or pea gravel around the outside base of the blocks to give the walls support. Tamp into place. Opt for a pre-emergent herbicide to keep grass out of your fire pit circle.
Step 9:
Next top caps are added to the fire pit walls. Use the same material as the walls, but with a different texture and color to add interest to the design. Lay them out and blend the color patterns before securing in place. Use mortar or construction adhesive to attach the top caps to the firewalls. Make sure the top of the walls are clean and dry before applying adhesive. Make sure the caps are level until dry. Use shims, if needed, to hold caps in place until dry. Since the caps sit close together, side mortar is not needed.
Step 10:
If burning real wood is not your style, convert your fire pit to gel fuel with a Little Sunjel Log Set. Buy two and place them back to back. And, when using your gel fuel Fire Pit be sure to request Outdoor SunJel Booster to keep the bugs away.
Step 11:
Now just wait for evening, build the first fire in your fire pit, and sit back and enjoy.
