Outdoor living doesn’t have to be tricky or expensive. Every little thing you do soon adds up to a backyard to die for, and one of the most fun things to include is a fire pit.
There are many companies that can install a fire pit for you, but why not take up the challenge and build your own?
Preparing the ground
Find a suitable location in your backyard to install your fire pit and decide how large you want it to be. 3 or 4 feet across is a good size as it allows a decent fire to be built but is small enough to allow people to talk comfortably when sat on opposite sides.
Make sure there are no underground pipes, cables, or other features that you may disturb when digging ñ you may need to check with your utility companies to confirm this.
If you get the all clear, mark out a circle of the appropriate size on the ground and get digging.
The lower half
Dig out around 8 inches of soil and flatten off the soil below. To build a solid foundation, a ring of concrete should be installed around the edge, approximately 6 inches wide. You can purchase concrete form tubes to get the sizing right. If you don’t build a foundation, any wall you build may shift and crack as the ground moisture levels change during the year.
On top of your concrete foundation, build a wall of vertical firebricks. Firebricks are more suitable at this level than standard bricks as they are less likely to be damaged by the heat.
The upper half
The firebricks will be sticking up above ground level. Build a single row of regular bricks around them to make the base of the upper wall, and then build a second row at a 90 degree angle to the first so that half of the top brick covers the top of the firebrick, while the rest extends over the regular brick wall. Make sure all the bricks are cemented in place and firmly set and cured before building a fire.
Fire!
Once everything is ready, you can build your first fire in the pit and use it to keep warm on cooler nights, or even to cook food over whenever you feel like it. Make it a feature if you are holding a pool party, or just it use it as a romantic location to relax with your loved ones as the sun begins to set.
There are many companies that can install a fire pit for you, but why not take up the challenge and build your own?
Preparing the ground
Find a suitable location in your backyard to install your fire pit and decide how large you want it to be. 3 or 4 feet across is a good size as it allows a decent fire to be built but is small enough to allow people to talk comfortably when sat on opposite sides.
Make sure there are no underground pipes, cables, or other features that you may disturb when digging ñ you may need to check with your utility companies to confirm this.
If you get the all clear, mark out a circle of the appropriate size on the ground and get digging.
The lower half
Dig out around 8 inches of soil and flatten off the soil below. To build a solid foundation, a ring of concrete should be installed around the edge, approximately 6 inches wide. You can purchase concrete form tubes to get the sizing right. If you don’t build a foundation, any wall you build may shift and crack as the ground moisture levels change during the year.
On top of your concrete foundation, build a wall of vertical firebricks. Firebricks are more suitable at this level than standard bricks as they are less likely to be damaged by the heat.
The upper half
The firebricks will be sticking up above ground level. Build a single row of regular bricks around them to make the base of the upper wall, and then build a second row at a 90 degree angle to the first so that half of the top brick covers the top of the firebrick, while the rest extends over the regular brick wall. Make sure all the bricks are cemented in place and firmly set and cured before building a fire.
Fire!
Once everything is ready, you can build your first fire in the pit and use it to keep warm on cooler nights, or even to cook food over whenever you feel like it. Make it a feature if you are holding a pool party, or just it use it as a romantic location to relax with your loved ones as the sun begins to set.
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