If you want
a fire pit in your backyard but are not impressed with the retail options, are
concerned about cost or just want something original, can you build one
yourself? The answer is yes. And it doesn’t take nearly as much effort or
expertise as you might think. You don’t need to be an expert mason,
either. A few tools you probably have on
hand, and maybe even some materials you have on hand, and you can build
yourself a cozy, safe and enjoyable fire pit for those chilly evenings.
Local Codes
Before you
should even contemplate building your own fire pit, check with the local fire
department and local code officials to make sure you’re allowed to do it first,
and if there are any special rules you need to follow. Don’t get yourself a
code violation for no good reason.
What You’ll Need
As far as
tools, you really just need a good shovel and some elbow grease to dig the pit.
Then you’ll need some fire proof material like bricks, paving stones, rocks or
field stones for the lining. You might already have these on hand from a
driveway paving project, or maybe some bricks were left over when you had your
house or fireplace refaced. If not, a good place to start before heading to the
home improvement store is an architectural salvage yard, if you have one
nearby. If not, don’t spend an arm and a leg on really fancy new materials.
It’s going to get black anyway and its for protection and safety more than
aesthetics. Measure your hole and do some quick calculations to determine how
much you need to line around the sides of the hole, with enough to extend above
the ground several inches. If you buy too much or not enough, just head back to
the store.
Location
Pick a safe
spot in your yard with at least 10 feet clearance from buildings, sheds, trees
shrubs and anything else that may be flammable or combustible. If you have a
yard that gets heavy breezes in certain areas, avoid them.
Build It
You can dig
your hole in any shape you want; round, square, rectangle. Heck, go star shaped
if it suits you. Just remember that odd shapes are harder to line. As noted
above, line the sides and make sure you leave a few inches above grade. If you
have a round hole and flat faced stones, arrange the stones in a circle and
then fill in dirt on the outside of the stones, making sure they stay put. If
you want, line the bottom. This is an added step and additional materials, but
it will make cleaning out ash easier and keep your hole from getting deeper
than you want it.
Safety First
Now that you
have an in ground hearth, safety is a big responsibility you should never take
lightly. A screened heavy steel grill that fits over it can keep embers from
taking flight. Make sure to completely smother the fire once you are done for
the night.
Keep it covered when you are not
using it. Always have a fire extinguisher near by.
Although you want to save money but consulting an outdoor living experts team will always ensure that no safety and building codes are violated while building your own backyard fire pit.
