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