| There are many alternatives to creating a fire pit | | | | source for tips and ideas. When considering a design |
| other than buying a firepit model that is ready-made | | | | you'll want to keep with the look of your home and |
| and requires some simple assembly. If you are a | | | | other existing structures. If you don't have time to |
| do-it-yourselfer looking to design and build your own | | | | dream up design ideas or if you had something more |
| fire pit you don't need a fancy set of blueprints, just | | | | complex in mind, you can order a set of plans online |
| a vision of the type of pit you are looking to | | | | complete with material list, for only a small fee.Once |
| create.What does it take these days to build fire pits | | | | you have finished building, be sure to keep safety in |
| for outdoor campfires and barbequing?The answer is | | | | mind. An in ground hearth is a permanent outdoor |
| not a lot. In terms of cost, building a wood burning pit | | | | fixture. You may want to keep it covered when not |
| can cost next to nothing and require no more than a | | | | in use; you can find inexpensive scrap metal and have |
| few hours of physical labor (especially if you have | | | | it cut to fit. Another option is to buy a basic fire pit |
| materials such as rock or brick on hand) to see the | | | | which should include cover, spark screen, log grill and |
| fireplace complete.First pick a safe area for your fire | | | | such and then build your stone or brick wall around it |
| pit, away from any structures that can catch fire and | | | | (see ). This limits the chances of children or pets |
| definitely out of the way of backyard traffic. Be sure | | | | accidentally running into an exposed fire pit and |
| to check with you local fire department for | | | | getting burned.If you want to build a gas fire pit, |
| information and codes. You need to know what the | | | | shop for either gas fire logs with or without embers |
| rules are before getting started. Getting going will | | | | or choose a simple metal fire ring: both ideas will allow |
| entail quarrying up some fieldstones or brick to line | | | | you to design the housing for the fireplace and come |
| the inside dirt walls of the pit once you've dug the | | | | up with your own plan.Whatever you decide, either |
| hole. Not to get ahead of ourselves here, but you will | | | | to build your own or buy one manufactured, a fire pit |
| need a good old shovel and some back strength to | | | | is a beneficial addition to your outdoor space, allowing |
| excavate soil. Position your fieldstone or brick around | | | | you to grill outdoors or to stay warm on cool |
| the holes perimeter and extend these materials | | | | evenings.Nicole Martins is a contributing writer and |
| above ground. The purpose of installing these | | | | researcher to Outdoor Fireplaces and Patio Heaters, |
| materials is to keep wind down and the soil away | | | | an online resource providing you with information and |
| from the fire.You can also build a stucco pit above | | | | reviews of popular outdoor heaters, fire pits and |
| ground or think of other creative ways of building | | | | fireplaces. |
| your pit; magazines or the internet are a great | | | | |