The Do-It-Yourself Fire Pit

Having a fire pit of your own is great, but building it by your self is even greater!  With the right material and a clear step-by-step guide, you’re on your way to a warm, relaxing evening to spend with a loved one, your family, or friends.

Preparation

Gather the materials you will need for the fire pit construction.

• Stones.  You can choose from landscaping blocks, to field stones, fire bricks, or other materials that can withstand extreme heat.  Make it sure that you are using a dry material as it can explode when exposed to heat by fire.
• Drainage.  This is to catch and drain rainwater in your fire pit.  You may dig a fence post-sized hole of at least two feet deep and then fill it with gravel.
• Adhesives or mortars.  You have to option to whether or not to use adhesives between the blocks.  It is a lot easier when replacing the blocks if there is no adhesive.  However, for more permanency, it is best to use one.  Make it sure that you are using an adhesive with high heat insulation or tolerance.
• Safe area.  Before starting, make sure you have found a safe spot to put up your fire pit.  To ensure safety, you better position it in an area with no much trees and dried grass or leaves that can easily catch stray fire.  Place it away from your neighbor’s fence to prevent smoke from going over to your neighbor’s house.

Materials you will need:

• 98 pieces of wall blocks
• Steel pit ring with tabs
• Metal grate
• Sand
• Gravel

Step 1: Dig a hole about two feet wider than the fire pit size.  Create a hole by hammering a round stake at the center of the fire pit.  Mark the circle by looping a string over the stake.  Dig out at least 12 inches over soil and fill it in with 4 inches of gravel and another 4 more of sand.  Make sure you flatten the layer.  Lay down the base course of blocks.  Make it sure that the layer is leveled well.  Fill the space outside with gravel.

Step 2: Lay the additional courses of stone.  You may place your steel ring at the middle of the pit to make sure that the courses have uniform roundness and diameter.

Step 3: Pile up additional layers with the stones positioned perpendicular from the layer under it, or in a staggering manner in order to maintain a strong foundation.  Leave at least three or four gaps between the stones in each layer to allow air to flow into the fire pits.

Step 4: Fill it in with gravel once you have stacked a couple of layers of stone.  Once you have finished the stacking and piling, spread the gravel evenly.

Step 5: Put the steel ring in place before putting the final layer of stone.  Once the steel ring is in place, you may add the final layer of stone.