An outdoor fire pit is a simple project that can bring a lot of pleasure to your outdoor gatherings.  Enjoy the warmth of a fire with family and friends.  Gather around a fire pit and roast marshmallows and hot dogs!  Building a fire pit is not a hard project.  Follow these simple steps on building a solid foundation and safe outdoor fire pit.

How to Build an Outdoor Fire Pit

Materials and Tools:

• String
• Stakes
• Shovel 
• Wheelbarrow
• Rake
• Upside down marking paint
• Tape measure
• Spirit level
• Mallet
• Tamper or plywood wired to a sledgehammer
• Sand
• Gravel
• 35- 12” x 8” x 4” Unilock Brussels blocks (sandstone)

Steps on building an outdoor fire pit:

1. Find a place that is away from trees and shrubbery where you can build a 56” in diameter fire pit.
2. Tie one end of string to a stake and one end to a can of upside-down marking paint.  Mark the outside diameter of the hole.  Use a tape measurer to get the correct radius, which is 28”.
3. Start digging with a shovel or spade a hole that is 12” deep.  This will make it deep enough to create a more stable foundation for the blocks.  
4. Put 6” of gravel into the hole.  Rake it smooth after each load.  
5. Put 6” sand over the gravel.  Sand is an excellent base for a fire so you can rake out cinders and ash.
6. Rake over the top and start tamping it down.  
7. Use a spirit level to ensure it is even.  
8. Scribe a line in the sand with the string and stake to mark the 19” inner circle radius for the first course of blocks.  This makes it easier to fit the blocks together.  
9. Set the first course of blocks (sets of ten) down using a mallet to fit them in securely.  Now, make two more layers of ten and one layer of five (top). 

How to Build a Patio Table Fire Pit

A patio fire pit provides a place for you to relax and enjoy when the weather starts to cool down.  Having a patio fire pit right outside your door is much more convenient than an outdoor fire pit.  

Materials and Tools:

• Lumber for size of patio table fire pit you desire. (Type of wood is up to you!)
• Rock or stone
• Cement mortar
• Fire pit bowl basin

Steps on Building a Patio Table Fire Pit

1. Build the surround for the fire pit from the lumber you desire. 
2. Construct a center basin from stone or rock that will hold the central fire pit bowl. 
3. Place the rocks or stone in a pattern and join seal them with a mortar of cement that contains no adhesives.  Dry stacking the stones is a common way to construct a fire pit bowl holder.  Make sure to leave a depression for the fire pit bowl.
4. Purchase a fire pit bowl basin that will fit into your center depression in the stone patio table.  
5. Fill the fire pit basin with wood or other burning material and light it.  The fire should consume the material.  Check all of the stone to be sure the fire pit bowl is securely held in place.

Follow the steps to building an outdoor fire pit and a patio table fire pit and some time in your back yard near the fire.

• Add New
• Search

Comments (1)

• |2010-02-25 18:51:30 David  - Fantastic tutorial
  Thank you for sharing this, its a real;y great idea. I've not seen anything like this in the uk, but i'll certainly be recommending this in the building industry.
  • 0
  • 0

  ReplyQuote

Write comment

Your Contact Details:

Name:

Email: do not notifynotify

Website:

Comment:

Title:

UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge

Message:

Security

Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Do it yourself - Home