Winters are approaching and who would not like to enjoy the evenings around a home made fire pit. If you are prepared to build one for yourself, here is a simple step wise description on how to go about it. Fire pits are easy to be build in your backyard but it can also be build at your deck or large terrace. According to the décor and choice, the shape of the fire pit can be chosen. Geometric shapes, circular, square or any other work better. Stones, tiles or colored bricks can be used to add aesthetic or rustic look to the design of the pit.
There are various options are available to chose from. One can make simple stone pit with fire resistant lining or can use old washing machine drums to create a fire pit.
Complexity level: Moderate
Time required: 24-72 hours for a backyard fire pit to completely dry and ready to use. Location, size and design can extend the required time.
Estimated cost: $150 to $200 for a home made back yard pit. For a bigger or complex design pit, cost may vary.
Resources required:
- Sand, stone, gravel
- Readymade cement mix
- Retaining wall blocks or landscaping blocks and firebricks
- Steel pit ring with tabs
- Metal grate
Instructions
1. Location shape and size: First step towards building a fire pit requires decision on location, shape and size of the fire pit. Once these are decided, measure the required height, width and depth of the fire pit and then move on to select material for the building.
Palletized stones are best suited for backyard pit due to their uniformity in shape and size. If looking for cheaper options, you can chose from available landscaping blocks.
2. Build the base: If ready with the ingredients, it is time to prepare a base. Place a stick at the center of the location where fire pit is being built. Measure equal distance from all sides to create base of the fire pit and encircle it. To this out line, create another line to decide width of the fire pit wall. Say, if the width of the wall is 12 inches then the width between the two lines have to be same.
3. Build the wall: Now on to this wall base, spread prepared cement mix. Leave the center free. Step by step place the stones around the pit to make a wall with mortar of specific height. At the same time, prepare the inner wall lining with heat resistant fire bricks. Properly press the outer stone with inner fire bricks with the mortar. For every additional layer, add mortar along the inner edges of brick so that no gaps are left in between. The top layer can be tiled with fire resistant tiles or can be finished with the smoothening of stone, brick mortar layer.
4. Finishing touches: Spray water around the pit so no dirt or dust is left on the walls and let it dry. Once it dries, spray interior of the fire pit with the black stove paint.
5. Prepare seating area around the fire pit: Mark the seating area according to the shape of the pit. Crushed stone or artificial layering can be laid on the seating area. These are the simple steps for creating simple backyard fire pit.
FAQ
Q. How can we create fire pit in a porch or deck?
Ans. This requires heat resistant base. If you have a concrete floor on a deck, you can easily make a fire pit.
Q. Where can we find fire pit building material?
Ans. A hardware store and garden store has almost every thing required for building a fire pit.
Quick Tips
- A quick fire pit can be created with easily gathered pallets of field stones and a bag of concrete for a night halt.
- Fast and temporary fire pit can be made on a table with stone, terracotta or a metal planter.
- The inner walls of the fire pit can be lined with steel pit ring with tabs.
Things to watch out for:
- Must check with your city or town planning before building a fire pit. Open fire may be restricted by some authorities.
- Porous rocks or home made clay used for the pit can be potentially dangerous.
- Do not leave gaps between the lining bricks, it may allow the fire to escape sideways.
