How to Build an Affordable Firepit
There is nothing better than spending a summer evening outdoors congregating around a fire pit to toast marshmallows and spend time with family and friends. While investing in a fire pit will undoubtedly add value to your home, when you start shopping around, you’ll soon learn that rarely does one of these firepits come cheap!
With that being said, there is a solution to this money pit… DIY it! Yes, believe it or not, it is possible to build your very own fire pit without breaking the bank.
Here are a few tips and ideas to help you build an affordable fire pit that won’t cost you a fortune, so you can focus on making the most of those summer evenings and enjoy the comfort crackle of that outdoor fire. Thankfully there are fire pit styles to suit every budget and aesthetic.
Use Retaining Blocks
Inexpensive retaining blocks can easily be purchased at your local DIY store and are great for building a cheap fire pit because of their angled sides, which create a perfect circle without any gaps. If you want to increase the oxygen flow into your fire pit, cut one of your retaining blocks in half and place each smaller block on opposite sites near the bottom of the ring to form a vent. Use the lawn as your fire pit’s floor and stack your retaining block, so it is about four tiers high, and there you have a simple fire pit.
Make The Most of An Unused Garden Pond
Garden ponds are often unused in people’s back gardens!
A lot of people build a pond in their gardens with the best of intentions but a few months down the line, maintaining the pond feels like too much effort. However, if the pond is the correct size, it could potentially make for a great fire pit, especially if it is lined with non-combustible rocks. As long as your old pond has a stone or concrete lining and doesn’t feature any PVC or synthetic rubber lines that are flammable, you are good to go. Once your pond is dried out, the transformation into a fire pit is simple. Just add a layer of sand, a covering of rocks, and then throw in your firewood to get the party started.
For Clean Lines Use Cinder Blocks
Fire-resistant cinder blocks can be artfully placed into a square share to create a contemporary-looking fire pit with clean lines with a minimalist aesthetic. However, it is important to remember that while cinder blocks are fire-resistant, they aren’t fireproof. Therefore, prolonged use will eventually cause cinder blocks to crumble. Thus, they may not be the best long-term option, but they will certainly do the trick if you need a quick fix. Furthermore, to extend the durability of your cinder block fire pit, you can consider using fire bricks or a fire ring as a liner.
Repurpose A Rustic Wheelbarrow
If a modern fire pit isn’t quite the aesthetic you’re after, and you’d prefer to opt for a rustic look, then repurposing an old metal wheelbarrow might be right up your street.
Although a well-worn wheelbarrow is something people rarely have to hand these days, it can often be found in a scrap yard or flea market. Giving the wheelbarrow a second lease on life by transforming into a fire pit is easy. Just be sure that it doesn’t have any cracks or significant rust patches and remove any plastic, rubber or wooden bits attached. It is best to position the wheelbarrow on a solid foundation of stone or brick in order to protect your lawn and keep the fire pit safe.
Give Your Garden A Industrial Feel With Fire Rings
Fire rings are another great base for building a DIY fire pit, especially if you are going for a modern, industrial look. Fire rings are intended to contain a fire pit, and you’ll find them available in various shapes, styles and sizes at most major home improvement stores, you can also pick one up online. Popular options include lattice patterns, galvanized steel and even square-shaped fire rings. Simply clear some space in your backyard, throw down some sand or pebbles and place your ring down. Next up, grab some firewood, and you are good to go. One of the easiest DIY fire pit solutions to do.
Conclusion
In short, a fire pit is a feature that allows people to spend more time enjoying the outdoor element of their home. However, as we have seen, you really don’t need to splash your cash for the privilege of sitting around a fire in the evening. There are DIY fire pit solutions that can be implemented at a fraction of the cost of a store-bought version. All it takes is a little bit of effort and creativity. Good luck!