Building a fire pit is an easy and inexpensive way to create a focal point in your outdoor space. You can use it for cooking, or just as a cozy place to enjoy the outdoors on cool evenings with friends and family. A fire pit also becomes the perfect gathering spot for parties, celebrations, and other social events.
The following guide will walk you through all of the steps required to build your own customdesigned fire pit from scratch using materials that are readily available at any home improvement store.
Build the foundation. The first step in building a fire pit is to build its foundation. You can build it out of rocks, or you can use bricks and mortar if you prefer. A good tip for using bricks is to start by laying them on their side so that they are easier to place vertically later on. Next, lay your mortar over the top of the brick structure and then let it dry overnight before proceeding with any more steps.
What is a Fire Pit?
A Fire Pit is a shallow hole in the ground or an outdoor structure with a fire bowl set into it. It can be found at campsites and parks as well as backyards, patios, and rooftops. They are designed for cooking food over open flame, keeping people warm during chilly nights outdoors, and having fun around a campfire with friends after dark! A pit usually consists of a metal ring to hold small logs or large pieces of wood that serve as fuel for the flames below them. Many pits will also have some sort of mesh screen on top made from aluminum foil to protect users from falling embers when they sit too close.
Useful tips: If you’re going camping make sure your fire pit is already set up when you get there. Also, make sure your fire site has proper clearance around it and that it’s not near any brush or dry grasses in case the wind picks up and spreads a fire uncontrollably!
Tips: Be careful when tending to live embers with logs still burning; try using an oven mitt for this job if possible. If your hands are still cold after wearing gloves then you might want to think about adding more insulation like Styrofoam sheets because everything will become hot once the flames start roaring again!
Why should I build a Fire Pit?
There are many reasons to build a fire pit. For example, they can be used for cooking food in an emergency situation or during camping trips with friends and family members. They are also popular at outdoor events such as music festivals where people often come together to enjoy the company of others while sitting around a campfire.
There are many advantages of building your own Fire Pit rather than purchasing one from home improvement stores or other retailers online. Firstly, it provides you with more control over its design because there is plenty of room for customization available when you make your own version instead of buying something that already exists offtheshelf. Secondly, if you have experience using tools then this will likely prove useful too because making one yourself means working with some heavy duty equipment.
In addition, building a Fire Pit is also much cheaper than buying one from elsewhere because you don’t have to worry about the cost of shipping and handling on top of whatever product price you pay for making your purchase in store or online. Most importantly though, when you build your own version it allows more freedom over what materials are used which may not be possible with other types available commercially. For instance, if there aren’t any restrictions on where they can be placed then most people will opt for something like concrete blocks but these do require special tools and skillset before they can even begin laying them out properly so that’s another reason why building one yourself could prove beneficial too!
Planning the location of the Fire Pit
Decide where you want to build it. It should be at least 30 feet away from your home and other structures (e.g., garage, shed).
- If the Fire Pit is in a location that receives strong wind, place rocks around it so that they can serve as protection for its structure during high winds or storms.
- The Fire Pit should be placed on a flat surface. If the ground is not level, use sandbags to keep it in place.
- Measure two times before you cut anything with your tools! Make sure that everything lines up properly and according to plan.
- Plan for rain. If you are building it outside, make sure there is no roof or cover over the Fire Pit area so that water can drain if it does start to rain.
Designing a Fire Pit Ring
There are many ways to build a Fire Pit Ring. This is the most basic design where you dig out an area for your fire pit and place rocks around it in order to make a ring shape. If you don’t want to do any digging, this kind of ring will work great because you can simply stack up some stones or bricks, making sure they sit flat at ground level so that there’s no tipping danger when people walk on them.
The most difficult part of this process is making sure that the rocks are stable and won’t fall over. If it doesn’t look quite right to you, don’t be afraid to take some time and rearrange your ring until it looks perfect!
Another alternative for building a Fire Pit Ring is using cinder blocks or bricks around the outside perimeter with no digging involved at all. This way will be more expensive than simply stacking stones because you have to buy materials like concrete caulk which you can use as mortar between each brick/block in order to make them stay together properly. With enough mortar though, they should remain firm even through weather changes throughout the year.
How to build a Fire Pit Step by Step? What tools and materials do I need?
There are many different types of fire pits on the market. Some, however, require more work than others when it comes to building them at home. It is important for you to know before purchasing a pit whether or not the project will be an easy task. If you’re new to DIY projects around your home then we recommend starting with something that requires less time and effort. This guide will show howto build a simple 22″ wood burning outdoor fireplace/pit step by step using cinder blocks as well as provide helpful tips along the way about what tools are needed for this type of project! The following steps can easily be adapted based upon your needs so please read through all instructions carefully before beginning this project.
Tools required for this project include (but are not limited to) the following: tape measure, shovel/trowel, hammer & nails or a drill with concrete bit if using cinder blocks as well as bricks instead of blocks. Materials you will require to build your fire pit include but are not limited to the following: cinder block(s), mortar (optional), sand or stones (laying under brickwork), gravel filling around base of fireplace & lastly bricks for facing wall
Tips and tricks for building Fire Pit
With the right materials, you can build a fire pit in an hour or two. There are many benefits to having your own outdoor cooking area including saving money on eating out and enjoying time with family and friends while preparing food. All of these steps will teach you how to cook over open flame without smelling like smoke at home! Use this guide as a reference for building one yourself using bricks, wood planks, rocks (optional), sand (optional) and more. If I’ve missed anything that should be included here please include it in the comments below so everyone else knows too!
The first thing you’ll want to do is pick which side of the house the pit is going be located if its still being built on the ground. If you can afford it, consider building a brick wall as your base to avoid having the pit tip over from being topheavy.
Materials you need (Rocks preferably flat)
Fireplace bricks or cinder blocks. You can use stones instead but you will need to build up some kind of platform for it.
Shovel or spade to dig a pit.
Garden hose and Fire Extinguisher (just in case).
*Firewood* – You can use logs but it is easier with wood that has been cut into smaller pieces, either split by you using an axe or saw, or precut firewood from hardware stores. The great thing about buying these ready made logs is they are usually very dry so will burn easily and quickly which means more heat produced!
*Kindling* – this is the best way to get your fire started. You can use newspaper or pieces of cardboard, or even wood shavings if you have them (the finer they are the better). Don’t be tempted to use petrol accelerants like meths—it gets rid of any “flavor” that might come out in the smoke and will produce a very unpleasant taste. If it burns too quickly then you need more kindling!
- Matches/Lighter – for lighting your kindling
- Fire Shovel / Poker – something to prod with when adding logs
- Bucket of Water & Hosepipe – just in case things go really wrong!
Rocks (preferably flat) – Fireplace bricks or cinder blocks. You can use stones instead but you will need to build up some kind of platform for it. – Shovel or spade to dig a pit. – Garden hose and Fire Extinguisher (just in case).
Tools and supplies needed for the Project
There are several things you’re going to need during the process of building a fire pit, so it is best if you have them ready before actually starting. You will obviously require some equipment for digging and mixing mortar, but having these tools at your disposal should also be helpful:
- Shovel
- Concrete mix – water would work too but using pre made mixes makes the project go faster
- Cinder blocks or bricks (preferably cinder block) that can serve as mold for concrete pour
- Concrete bag mix
- Wheelbarrow
- Water hose or bucket – to keep the concrete wet when it is being poured into blocks mold
- Gloves – to protect your hands from the sharp edges of cinder blocks
- Safety glasses
Waterproof gloves for protection against heat. You can also use cotton gloves which are less expensive, but be careful with fire pit because they will get burnt pretty quickly. Also make sure not to handle hot coals without proper precautions or you might end up seriously burned!
Steps to follow when building your own Fire Pit
Step #0: Decide where to build it. If you want a Fire Pit in your garden, make sure that the ground is not wet and there are no trees or plants nearby. Always check with local authorities for advice! The pit must be at least 15 feet from anything flammable such as buildings, grasses, leaves… Also avoid underground cables if possible.
Step #I: Prepare your base layer of stones/pebbles – this could vary depending on what material you use but should always be bigger than the stones around them for stability reasons (so they’re about twice as big). This will also help prevent burns from flying sparks when it’s lit up later on during night time so prepare accordingly and wear protective clothes and gloves to be safe.
Step #II: Build a kindling layer of small twigs, leaves or straw – this is where you will place the fire when it’s lit later on so make sure that all your materials are dry before adding them into the Fire Pit! When building this layer, try not to let bigger logs touch each other as they could spark even when just slightly in contact with one another. Also add some extra material at the edges so you have something big enough for lighting up your wood/logs in step III below.
Step #III: Now build a third layer consisting of smaller pieces of wood/wood chips which should fit nicely in between the previous two layers mentioned above (step II and step I). These should be of the same kind of wood/wood chips that you want to use for your fire but make sure they’re dry. If possible, split some logs into smaller pieces as this will help with airflow and allow more oxygen inside which speeds up the process!
Step #IV: Build a fourth layer consisting of slightly bigger pieces so it’s easier to light them – these are also best if cut in half or quarters for better airflow when lit later on before adding Step #V below.
Step #V: At last, build your fifth and final layer just like the third one mentioned above (step III) by placing small twigs between larger ones. This gives an even heat distribution once everything is set alight.
Step #VI: Now your work is almost done! Simply light up the fire and allow it to burn for a little while before you actually start cooking on top of it, make sure that there are no floating sparks around though!! If they do fly, extinguish them with some water or sand – never use dirt as this will only spread out the ember which could cause new fires. After everything has burned down slightly (to about half its size), grab yourself something yummy from the fridge/oven and dig into that tasty piece of meat kabob or just enjoy some snacks by the cozy warm glow of your Fire Pit! Bon Appétit 🙂
Step #VIII: Always check if any material still smoulders and repeat step V if necessary. When you’re done with the fire, make sure to extinguish it properly by flooding the whole pit with water!
Step #X: Finally, check for any embers that might still be burning before calling it a day – these could cause damage later on when sitting around in your backyard. If there is some left over material (e.g branches) use sand or dirt to put out all remaining sparks which will most likely end up smoldering throughout the night so don’t worry too much about them but do keep an eye on things just in case they reignite into new fires again 🙂 Thanks for reading our post, hope this helps!
Remember to follow all safety protocols while building your Fire Pit! If you’re unsure, please contact local authorities for advice! The pit must be at least 15 feet from anything flammable such as buildings, grasses, leaves… Also avoid underground cables if possible.
Building a Fire Pit Ring
- Dig a hole that is slightly larger than the size of your fire ring. It should be deep enough to hold sand or gravel around it, but not so deep as to make it difficult for you (or someone else) to move the finished product later on. The bottom of this pit does not need any extra support; however, if you are concerned about stability then consider adding rebar in the area where heavy rocks will rest.
- Don’t dig too close to your foundation, garden beds or patios! You also don’t want anything smoldering there when you’re done with your fire pit – fire safety first!
- This step may take some time depending on how big and sturdy you’d like your fire pit to be.
- Prepare the sand or gravel base that will hold your stones in place. This is an important step because if you don’t have a solid foundation then it can collapse under the weight of all those rocks and endanger anyone around it.
- If you want to save money, go around your neighborhood and offer to buy people’s old bricks or stone. You can build a great looking fire pit for very little cash this way!
- Place the rocks of choice in order of size from biggest to smallest. This will help with stability when building up above them later on if they are all level with one another. Make sure that there is room between each rock so that air can circulate freely through the gaps – you do not want any smoke being trapped under stones because it could get smoky fast! If you’re using more than just simple ‘bricks’ then just keep in mind how many rocks you will need to fill the desired space.
If it’s too difficult for someone else (a friend) to do this part for you then consider hiring a landscaper who can get everything set up within an hour! It’ll cost more but worth every penny when they’re done with the job…and not drag out forever! Also avoid doing this by yourself – it’s dangerous!
I have a question for you. Do you want just the basic basics or do you want to go all out? If so, then consider adding some decorative stones/bricks around the border of your fire pit – things like little stepping stones can be used as seating areas too! This step may take some time depending on how big and sturdy you’d like your fire pit to be.
I know what you’re thinking; why should I use tinder when there are already so many flammable materials surrounding me? Trust me, unless you want a lot of smoke, using tinder is a must – it reduces the likelihood that it will take forever for your fire to get going!
- This step may take some time depending on how big and sturdy you’d like your fire pit to be.
- Once everything is nice and even, start building up from there with sand or gravel around the area where flames are going to come out at which point it should all blend together seamlessly so don’t worry if bricks/stones seem too uneven here because this part won’t show once everything else is laid down. You can also use mortar for extra support along walls but keep in mind that mortar takes much longer to dry than other substances so consider not using it unless you have a very patient friend who doesn’t mind waiting around hours for it to dry.
Building a Brick or Stone Wall around the Fire Pit ring for Safety
- Dig the pit out at least 12″ deep and 24” in diameter. Make sure you don’t go past any underground utility lines such as water, gas or electric.
- Start with a layer of small rocks down to create a level surface for your fire ring base. This is also where we recommend staying away from river rock due to their sharp edges. The perfect choice would be round cobbles about one inch thick and two inches wide so they won’t fall through into the bottom of your pit when heating them up! You can find these at most home improvement stores next to concrete pavers if not ask someone working there – They will point you in the right direction just make sure it’s safe around power lines, etc.
- Once you have a level foundation for your fire pit, check the depth again with a tape measure to make sure it’s still 12″ deep and then add about four inches of larger rocks such as river rock or cobbles on top of that base layer. The good news is even if they aren’t all exactly one inch thick like we recommended above they won’t matter because now those smaller stones are acting as an insulation barrier between the heat source (your burning logs) and whatever surface you place them on inside your fire pit!
- Build Your Fire: To build our fire we recommend using crumpled up newspaper at first followed by kindling/wood shavings – Then wood split into small pieces no larger than your wrist and finally the big logs on top. The bigger the fire, in general, the less you’ll have to tend it so try starting small with a few pieces of newspaper and kindling wood if you’re just getting into building fires or need some extra time for dinner – You can always add more later when that’s done!
- Don’t put lighter fluid directly onto hot coals/embers as this could cause flare ups plus most types contain petroleum distillates which are bad news bears for anyone trying to enjoy their well earned s’mores around an open flame. We recommend using pine cones instead because they work better at catching fire from one matchstick!
Environmental Protection
We all know that the natural environment is becoming increasingly polluted. That’s why it is so important to protect nature now, before it’s too late! The best way to do this is to live in harmony with Mother Nature by recycling and using recycled products instead of new ones. You can also use ecofriendly materials for your Fire Pit project if you want a little extra help protecting our planet!
Safety Tips
- Wear protective clothing, gloves and goggles when handling flammable materials.
- Never leave a fire unattended or use flammable liquids to start the flame as it can cause unexpected accidents.
- Ensure that the area is clear of dry grasses or other flammable materials.
- To prevent any accidents, keep children and pets away while you are building your pit.
- Make sure the pit is placed in a flat and open area.
FAQs
Can I use a metal fire pit bowl instead of the brick?
In most cases, Yes. However, you should be aware that there are restrictions in some municipalities when using metal bowls. For example, many building codes require that an approved spark arrestor screen or other safety device must be used with any gas burning appliances to protect against the possibility of embers being ejected from the appliance and causing fires on roofs or combustible surfaces near outdoor gas equipment. Check your local municipality for specific information regarding open air burners vs Fire Pits. And if it is not allowed where you live – do not use them! If unsure get advice from professionals before proceeding with construction/installation!
How do I clean my brick Fire Pit?
Make sure to use a stiff bristle brush and mild detergent. Rinse with water afterwards. Note: Avoid using chlorine bleach because it will damage your bricks permanently (and burn colors fade away eventually). Also avoid power washing as this may remove mortar joints between bricks. If you are not comfortable doing it yourself, there is always an option of hiring professionals – just make sure they know what they are doing or look for somebody else if needed!
Can I build Fire Pit myself? What tools/materials would I need?
Specially designed tools can be required depending on personal preferences but basically yes – anybody that can use few tools can do it! However, if you are not comfortable with building or operating power equipment (and many people aren’t), then don’t hesitate to call professionals.
Conclusion
The fire pit can be made out of rock, brick or metal. You just have to find the right materials that suit your needs and then build it! As for me, I would go with a stone one as they are lightweight but sturdy enough to hold up against the heat produced by the fire. This is also because my backyard has rocks which makes this type of material easier to come by locally. If you’re looking for something more durable though, there are plenty other options available for purchase online so do some research before committing yourself to anything else.