How to Build a Fire Pit
Fire pits have become super popular with homeowners in Ireland over the past few years, and it's clear to see why given all that they offer to your garden. As well as being visually pleasing to look at, fire pits are very functional and have many uses plus great benefits. Fire pits can of course be expensive and not all of us have the disposable income to pay someone to come in and install our fire pit for us. If this is the case for you, why not go for it and attempt to build your very own fire pit? Here is a step by step guide to building your own fire pit yourself.
Step 1: Choose your location
Before any work goes into the actual construction of your fire pit, it’s time to decide where your fire pit is going to be located. There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing where to build your fire pit: #1 is safety. Make sure wherever you decide to locate the fire pit away from anything flammable.
Function is another consideration - is my fire pit in the way? Can myself and others walk around it with ease without potentially hurting ourselves?
Lastly is aesthetics - pick a location that will complement the existing design of your garden and show off your new garden accessory.
Step 2: Select your base
The base of your fire pit is the part which holds the burning logs or coals. You can purchase bases in major hardware stores that have been manufactured for the purpose of being a fire pit base. If you are hoping to save some extra cash, a great option is to look around and see if you have anything you could upcycle as your fire pit base. Maybe you have an old bird bath or metal bucket you could rework and make into the base of your fire pit. Another option is to add two inches of gravel, wet & pat it down, then surround the gravel layer with clay blocks. Add a thick layer of rocks to hold the clay blocks in place. This requires more work upfront but needs less maintenance in the long run.
Step 3: Select your blocks
The block you choose to build the outer structure of your fire pit will be the main influence on how the fire pit looks. Wall blocks work the best for building the structure and after that you are free to select whatever stone best suits the way you had visioned your fire pit. This is where you get a chance to inject a bit of your personality into the design of your fire pit. The variables we are working with here are stone texture and colour - pick whatever combo you feel fits your gardens aesthetic best.
Step 4: Prep your location
Once all considerations have been made and you have settled on a location, start prepping the area to ensure it's ready to begin construction. Start by taking measurements for the base of your fire pit and begin leveling off the ground where you plan on building. If possible you should remove about two inches or so of the surface where you intend on locating the fire pit. Use your blocks as an outline, putting them in position without mending them together and mark an outline around the blocks as a border, allowing you to have accurate measurement. It is very important that you level off the ground or else the structure won’t be sturdy.
Step 5: Build the fire pit
Once the ground has been prepped and is level, it is time to start building your fire pit! Here you are going to loosely join the blocks together without fixing them so you can ensure accurate measurements. Layer the blocks in a way that the block joints are staggered, as opposed to directly aligned on top of eachother. This will make the finished fire pit stronger.
You likely will have to cut a few blocks in order to make them fit. If this is the case just mark around the block with a T square and cut the marked line with a circular saw and a concrete blade. Once you are happy with how all your blocks align, stick them together using any kind of concrete adhesive. Finally, if you have selected a metal base you will insert it in the centre of your fire pit and fix it to the fire pit walls.
Step 6: Decorate your fire pit
After we have done all that work, it’s time to have some fun with your fire pit and add decorations to fit the style of your garden. Think garden furniture like benches, chairs and tables - all which can be placed around the fire pit to make it a great place for social events. You can use garden ornaments and other items of the sort to add a bit of character to the fire pit area too. There are also items available that can help give your fire pit extra functions like barbecue grills and suspended cauldron hooks to enhance the cooking experience. There is a vast range of possibilities for your fire pit, so get creative!
Conclusion
Like most good things, there is effort required to build a fire pit and you will have to set aside both time and money to make it happen but, if you make the most of it and dedicate yourself to the task then it is definitely worth it! You will have your fire pit for years to come and it will become a very essential part of your social life and get togethers with friends and family. If you are going to build a fire pit, you will need to commit to getting it done and make it happen!