| A fire pit can add dimension and value to your home. | | | | lumber, a small piece of dowel wood, a can of spray |
| Fire pits are very nice in the winter as well as the | | | | paint (any color will do), some regular gravel and |
| summer. | | | | some string. |
| There are kits available that allow you to simply put | | | | 1) First, find the center of your fire pits location and |
| one together and away you go. However, I find that | | | | mark it with the dowel wood. Now attach a 12 piece |
| learning how to make an outdoor fire pit is the most | | | | of string to the dowel with a can of spray paint at |
| cost effective way to go. | | | | the end. Using the string as a guide, paint a 24 circle. |
| The first thing you want to do is consider what you | | | | Then do the same thing with a piece of string 24 |
| want the fire pit to look like. Think about color, | | | | long. |
| height, width, location and material needed. | | | | 2) Dig out between the paint lines 10 deep and you |
| You want to be away from any structures or things | | | | have a trench that is 48 in diameter at the largest |
| that could catch fire for obvious reasons, so location | | | | point with a trench that measures 12 wide by 10 |
| is the first thing to decide on. For material, most rock | | | | deep all around. This is your base. |
| or do-it-yourself cement should suffice. | | | | 3) Now add the gravel to the trench and tamp it |
| As these things go, always check with your local | | | | down so its firm. Then mix your cement and fill the |
| authorities for ordinances and regulations regarding | | | | trench to the top all the way around. Level this off |
| fire pits in your area concerning where they can be | | | | with the 2x4 and smooth out with the trowel. Allow |
| placed and how big they can be. You want to be | | | | to set for at least two days, possibly up to a week |
| within the law with this. If you need building permits | | | | so it has cured properly. |
| or neighbors permission, get it so you are in line and | | | | 4) You will dig out the inside of the pit to so it is 2 to |
| legal so you dont run into problems later on. | | | | 3 higher than the sides, which will 7 or 8 and lay |
| With that out of the way, you can map out your | | | | some more gravel in the bottom. |
| location and begin. Here is an idea for a basic, | | | | 5) Then mix up your mortar and lay the firebrick so |
| in-ground fire pit that is approximately 24 inside | | | | the bottom is completely covered. You may want to |
| diameter and 10 deep. | | | | lay a second layer of brick. Thats up to you entirely. |
| What You Need | | | | 6) Allow the mortar to dry for a couple of days and |
| You will need 2 or 3 bags of quick drying cement like | | | | you have an in-ground fire pit ready to go. |
| Sakrete or the like, enough firebrick or stone to line it | | | | This is only one style among many, so look around |
| with, some quick mortar, a trowel, a 2x4 piece of | | | | and see what you want and go for it! |