There’s a particular magic in the night air, warmed by the gentle flicker of a fire pit and filled with the laughter of good company. Making a Fire Pit doesn’t only offer you warmth on chilly evenings, but it also turns your backyard or patio into a cozy gathering spot. This easy, budget-friendly DIY firepit project leverages basic materials to create a warming beauty that’ll make your outdoor spot the go-to place for get-togethers.
How To Build Your Fire Pit
Materials and Tools Needed:
- 98 retaining wall blocks
- Steel pit ring with tabs
- Metal grate
- Sand
- Gravel
Site Preparation:
Your first duty is prepping up the site for the fire pit. Choose a spot and ensure it’s safe (in a wooded area or away from external flammable materials). Now, pick your blocks – preferably landscaping ones. It’s highly suggested not to use stones submerged in water as they potentially explode due to heat. The dry-stacking technique is beneficial for convenience and cost-effectiveness. Prioritize safety by soaking the area with water before igniting the first flame.
Excavate
You must dig a hole larger than the fire pit, about 7 feet across. Staking at the center and marking with a 3 1/2-inch length string loop forms a neat circle. Remove 12 inches of soil. Now, layer 4 inches of gravel and sand into the hole, then tap it flat. The base course of blocks goes on top of this secure base, ensuring it is level in every direction. The step towards strength by filling up space outside blocks with gravel.
Stack the Stones
The real artistry kicks off when laying the courses of stone. Use a steel ring to ensure a circular shape and precision for your fire pit. Level your courses to the ground and perpendicular to one another. This precision gives you an excellent fire pit in diameter.
More Layers, More Strength
Brush off debris from the previous layer and lay more layers of stone. Make sure you overlap them, leaving three or four random gaps in every course and letting the fire breathe. A crucial tip: Add gravel into the center of the fire pit once you’ve stacked a couple of courses, making your job more manageable.
Finishing with the Steel Ring:
Next, you set the steel ring into position before adding the final layer of stones. This addition lends your fire pit a complete and stylish look. As originally built, the fire pit is approximately seven layers tall and around 25 inches in height.
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