How to Build a Fire Pit: The Ultimate Guide

Do you love spending time outdoors with your friends and family? If so, then you need to build a fire pit! A fire pit is perfect for enjoying a warm summer evening or cool autumn night. Make your own fire pit with the help of this blog post!

Outdoor fire pits are a popular trend right now. People are using stone-walled pits to get heat from the earth. It’s a good way to keep warm on cool summer nights. You can also melt marshmallows and nibble s’mores while you lounge in an Adirondack chair, feet propped up on the rock ledge.

A built-in fire pit is like a campfire, but it has walls of stone to help contain the flames and heat. This is important in areas where there is a risk of brush fires. Checking local fire codes should be the first step in building any fire pit. Make sure the pit is located far away from overhanging.

Blocks that look like real stone made from cast concrete can make building stone walls easier. The blocks are flat on the top and bottom, so they stack neatly. They also interlock for added strength. Glue them together with masonry adhesive. In general, the inside diameter of a fire pit should be somewhere between 36 and 44 inches. That will leave enough room for a roaring fire while still allowing everyone to speak comfortably.

To protect the concrete in the blocks, you should use a steel ring like the ones used for park campfires when you have a fire pit. This will keep the heat from damaging the concrete.

Ideally, a fire pit should have a foot-high wall and sit on the ground. However, the wall’s base must be buried below in a gravel-lined pit for stability’s sake. This will help with drainage and protect against frost heaves in the winter. Gravel also serves as a level surface on which the stones can rest their weight. A cap on top of two and a half courses of concrete blocks, which have an average height of 4 inches, results in a total of three and a half courses of concrete above ground. While sitting outside in your garden, you’ll have a foot-high wall for your feet to rest on.

How to Build a Fire Pit

1. Lay Out the Blocks

• To create the foundation for your fire pit, start by creating a ring of blocks. Ensure that the blocks are positioned in a circle and that the circle is in a spot where you want the finished fire pit to be. If you need to adjust the size of the circle, you can do so by cutting a block and then fitting it into place. Use a marker to mark where you need to cut the block on its underside.
• To score the block, use a cold chisel and a brick hammer. Score as many points as you can till you’ve gone around the block a few times.
• You can split a block of stone by placing it on a hard surface, such as flat rocks or gravel. Hold the chisel in the scoreline and hit it with the brick hammer until the block splits.
• Use the brick hammer to clean up any jagged edges on the cut block. Put the block into the ring.

2. Mark the Pit Location

• Choose a location that is safely away from the fence or any other items that may burn.
• Ensure the joints between the blocks are tight and that the front and back edges line up. With a spade, mark a circle in the ground about an inch outside the perimeter of the ring.
• Remember how many stones are on the ring. Take them off and set them aside.
• If you are using interlocking blocks, remove the tongues on the bottom of the first-course blocks to lie flat in the trench. Chip them off with a brick hammer.

3. Make a Block Trench

• With a spade, dig a trench that is 12 inches deep and as wide as one block. Make it straight-sided. Then in the area around the trench, dig down 6 inches.
• Put the ring of blocks in the trench to see if they fit together in a circle. If they don’t fit, dig more to widen the trench. Remove blocks.

4. Fill the Trench

• You will need to use 6 inches of drainage gravel to fill the trench. Use a hand tamper to compact the gravel. If necessary, add more gravel to the level and even the trench.
• Make sure the blocks are aligned when you lay them out. A huge gap between the blocks if they are not aligned.

5. Lay and Level the First Course

• Make a ring out of the first block. Use a two-foot level to ensure it is level from side to side and front to back. If it’s too high, use a rubber mallet to knock it down. If it’s too low, use a few patio bases to raise it up a bit. If the initial block isn’t perfectly level and positioned in the trench, don’t proceed.
• To finish the stack, add a second block on top of the first. The sides of the blocks should be pressed together securely, and the front and back borders should be aligned. To level the second block, use the first block as a guide.
• In the same fashion, place the remaining blocks in the trench. Before going on to the next block, ensure that the preceding one is perfectly level and perfectly aligned with its next-door neighbors. In some cases, a mallet may be required to help the final block to the position.) Use a 4-foot level to confirm the ring is level at regular intervals.
• Making small adjustments to your work can have a big impact in the end. Move slowly and carefully, taking your time with each step.

6. Assemble the Walls

• To join two blocks together, use a caulking gun to squeeze a zigzag bead of masonry adhesive across the two blocks. Afterward, set the newly constructed block on the glued-together hunks of wood. Make sure that any interlocking parts on the blocks fit together well.
• Continue until the second course is complete.

7. Fill the Pit

• Six inches of gravel should be poured into the hole. The first two brick courses will be held up by the gravel. In this order, apply adhesive and install the third and fourth courses of bricks.
• Place the iron campfire ring inside the ring. Adjust it so that the top of the block wall is level with it. Gravel the gap between the ring and the block wall.
• Make sure you’re working no more than a few feet away from any potential fire and only in one small location at a time. Masonry adhesive sets up quickly.

8. Cap the Blocks

• The cap pieces should be positioned on top of the pit walls. Assuming you’re working with natural stone, try assembling the pieces like a puzzle. Then, mark where the upper stone meets the other stones. Also, roughly mark where the stone should overhang outside and inside the circle. Use a brick hammer and chisel to score the stone on those marks. A diamond-bladed grinder can score the stone more deeply for thicker natural stones.
• On a hard surface, you can place the stone. The chisel can be used to split the stone, or you can use a brick hammer to knock against the stone’s edge until it breaks. Using a circular saw, cut and split each stone in the same way around the circle until you have a cap that fits snugly.
• If you are using blocks, glue the pieces to the wall. Mix enough bonding ingredients — not water — into the dry mortar if you’re using natural stone so that the mixture has the consistency of peanut butter.
• The first step in constructing a stone wall is to moisten the wall with a bonding agent. Then, put a large mound of mortar on two blocks. The point of the trowel can be used to produce a groove in the mortar. Put the capstone on top, push it down, and tap it with the rubber mallet to set and level it. Continue to do this until the wall is finished. Wait two days before lighting a fire.

Visit this page for more information on building a fire pit.

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Build a Fire Pit

What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Fire Pit?

You’ll need to lay down a layer of sand at the bottom of the pit before anything else. Afterward, spread gravel over the sand layer. Add lava rocks or fire pit glass on top of the gravel if you choose. To avoid using any of the above, you might simply use dirt.

Does a Fire Pit Need a Liner?

A fire pit liner is essential if you plan to use your pit for extended periods. If your fire pit is made of bricks, you don’t need a liner. Fire bricks are made to resist high temperatures and are a good choice for permanent fire pits.

Will Cinder Blocks Explode in a Fire Pit?

Use fire-rated cinder blocks in the beginning. Using a dense concrete block in a fire pit isn’t a good idea. Any water within the block must exit through the pores to keep it from exploding.

Should You Put Rocks in the Bottom of a Fire Pit?

The bottom of the fire pit should be covered with a thin layer of sand. Fill it out to a depth of 2-6 inches, as indicated. Using these materials as a fire pit fill will increase the risk of an explosion or cracking when heated to a high temperature.

How Far Should a Fire Pit Be From a House?

You should keep at least 10 feet (or 3 meters) away from any structure. The distance may vary depending on your county or municipality, so be sure to check the specific rules in your area.

Should You Put Sand in the Bottom of a Fire Pit?

Some metal fire pits recommend you use an inch or 2 of sand at the bottom of the pit. This will help protect the metal bowl from the intense heat, and it will also help keep the sand from going up in flames. It’s a good idea to fill the bottom of a metal pit with sand.

Can You Just Dig a Hole for a Fire Pit?

Your fire pit’s depth is entirely up to you. Dig 6 to 8 inches deep for a basic fire pit. Be careful not to go too far down the hole since you don’t want to lose sight of the flames if you do.

Are Pavers Safe for a Fire Pit?

These bricks can withstand high temperatures and are safe to use around fires. Landscaping bricks that have been kiln-fired are a good option for a fire pit. Make sure to use paver stones, which will also be safe to use around the fire. It’s best to choose a diameter of 3 feet for your temporary fire pit.

How Do You Keep a Fire Pit From Filling With Water?

A tarp over your fire pit can keep it dry in the event of rain. It is possible to cover your fire pit or grill with either a fire pit- or grill-specific tarp. In either case, a synthetic tarp made of heavy-duty cloth will help protect your fire pit from water damage.

Can I Put a Fire Pit on the Grass?

You can place a fire pit on top of the grass, but you need to take precautions, so the grass doesn’t get damaged. A mat or other material should be placed underneath to prevent harm.

How Deep Should an Above-Ground Fire Pit Be?

Before beginning construction on your fire pit, make sure to verify your local ordinances regarding outdoor burning. This will make sure that it is legal and that you won’t get fined more than the cost of the fire pit itself. Most landscapers recommend having the fire pit base six to twelve inches below the surrounding grade.