Do you want to have a fire pit in your backyard? It’s a great addition to the home for aesthetics and practical purposes. Don’t fret because it’s quite simple to create.
How to build a backyard fire pit? Read on and learn!
Why You Should Build a Firepit…
Fire pits have become more popular than ever. There are just too many benefits to having a fire pit in the backyard.
Here are some of them:
It can upgrade your backyard
Fire pits are beautiful especially when lit.
But to make sure that it is going to upgrade your backyard even during the morning when you don’t need it, find attractive materials.
Let me elaborate
This is your chance to create something to beautify a space. Yes, a fire pit is more than just a decoration. There is practical use to it.
However, you can also utilize it as a way to elevate the look of your backyard. So, take time to really conceptualize your pit.
Imagine
Try to fantasize about how your backyard will look with a fire pit. Imagine it both ways–lit and not lit.
You have to make sure that the fire pit is not an eyesore during the day when you don’t need it for practical reasons.
You can brave the cold outdoors
You can’t be cooped up inside the house all the time. Fresh air can do so much good for your physical and mental health.
Well, with your own fire pit, you don’t have to wait until summer to enjoy fresh air. Even at night, you can enjoy fresh air.
The good news!
With a backyard fire pit, you can enjoy the wind on your face without getting the chills.
Now, you can have a solitary sojourn near the fire pit. Better yet, you can invite the entire family or even some friends to have a small gathering.
There will be a warm place to gather
We are still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so gathering may still be a bit questionable. But once everyone in your circle has been vaccinated, then you can call for a small gathering in your backyard.
The fire pit will keep you and your peers warm together.
You know what it feels like?
It’s like camping but without the discomfort of sleeping in tents. Lol.
Okay, there is nothing wrong with sleeping in tents, it can be quite fun. However, it’s definitely not for everybody.
But when you have a fire pit, you can still have the benefits of going camping without the tent part. That means sharing stories–including scary ones–and laughing together.
It provides 360 fire
A fireplace only provides warmth in one angle since it’s usually on a wall. A fire pit, though, provides 360-degree warmth since people can gather around it.
Fire can be relaxing
A study from a few years back indicated that watching fire could be relaxing and it could actually lower one’s blood pressure.
According to a study from the University of Alabama: “Findings confirm that hearth and campfires include relaxation as part of a multisensory, absorptive, and social experience.”
Is that right?
There’s really more reason now to hang out by a fire pit. Both the flickering and the crackling of the fire can be good for you.
Fire can also be romantic
Yep! It gives a great ambiance to have an at-home date. It also provides the perfect atmosphere for cuddling.
You can cook on it!
Yesssss!
We’re not just talking about burning marshmallows and making smores here. A fire pit produces fire and fire can cook.
So, yes, it can grill your favorite food, too!
Here’s what you can do
You can put a charcoal grate over the pit and cook burgers or steaks or salmons. You can also put vegetables over it.
If you don’t have a charcoal grate, you can just skewer your food and put it over the fire.
Plus
If you have cold leftover food, you can warm it up over the fire, too. There’s no need for a microwave.
See? There are so many amazing benefits to having a fire pit at home.
Let’s move on to the fun part!
How to Build a Backyard Fire Pit
You can save money if you just do the fire pit by yourself. Don’t overcomplicate things. Just be simple about it and you can do things in 10 very easy steps.
Here are the things you need to do:
1. Check the local regulations
There are different rules governing the building of fire pits. Check with your homeowners association and local government about possible restrictions.
You may even need to get a permit before being able to build it.
Important
Don’t skip this part because you might be building something that you have to demolish later on when authorities find out that you didn’t follow the local regulations.
2. Determine the appropriate location
There are important considerations when building a fire pit. For one, it has to be away from other residential buildings. That’s why you need to check the rules.
Now, within your property, the fire pit also needs to be at least 10 feet from things that could catch fire.
This means
The fire pit should be away from property lines and physical structures. It should also be far from plants including hedge.
The 10 feet recommendation puts wind into consideration. If the wind is strong, you don’t want the fire to catch on to anything that could burst into huge flames.
3. Prepare your materials
Again, you need to check local regulations about how big a fire pit you are allowed to build. Standard sizes are 36 to 44 inches for the inside diameter.
The height is at least a foot tall. It can be taller if you want.
With that in mind
Calculate the materials you need to prepare.
This is a simple fire pit with simple materials. You can be more creative with yours and change the exterior materials according to what you want.
Materials to prepare:
- Bricks
- Gravel
- Steel fire ring
- Shovel
- Stake
- Twine
- Trowel
- Brick adhesive
When purchasing the materials, you can tell the store that it’s for a fire pit so that you will get high-grade and definitely fire-resistant materials.
4. Mark the area with a circle
Put a stake in the middle of the proposed fire pit area. Tie a twine on to the stake. The purpose of this is so that your circle is of an even shape and size.
Now, tie the other end of the twine to the handle of the trowel.
And then
Make sure the twine is straight. Dig the ends of the fire pit with the trowel using the twine as a guide to where you should dig.
5. Shovel out the grass
You want to clear the area so you can already start with your fire pit.
6. Level the ground
You can use a tamp to do this or just the back of your large shovel. It has to be completely level so you can have a great fire pit.
7 Install your steel ring
This will protect your bricks from drying out from extreme heat. When the bricks or the wall become dehydrated, it will easily crumble.
This ring will make the wall last for a long time.
8. Add the gravel
The gravel will be a base for the bricks. So, you will put them on the ground and around the circumference of the steel ring.
The gravel can be a couple of inches or so thick.
By the way
They need to be leveled, too.
9. Arrange the bricks
Now, it’s time to put the exterior of your fire pit. Just properly arrange the bricks against the steel ring.
Stack the bricks until you reach around 12 inches tall. Make them stick with brick adhesive.
Why this?
Cement will work, too. But it always feels like a lot of work. The brick adhesive is appropriate for small projects that use bricks.
Obviously, you don’t use the adhesive for building a wall. But for a fire pit wall, this will do.
10. Add the firewood
Just put the firewood inside the pit and you are ready to go!
Fire it up and relax and enjoy fresh air without shivering from the cold.
Summary
Building a backyard fire pit is extremely easy. You should definitely do it as the benefits you get from a fire pit is so much more than the physical investment you put into building one.
How to build a backyard fire pit? The process only involves 10 simple steps. The first one involves knowing the neighborhood regulations surrounding the construction of a fire pit, while the last one includes the actual relaxation in front of the crackling fire.
Did you know that there is scientific evidence that watching and listening to the flickering fire could be good for your mental health? For that alone, building a backyard fire pit is worth it.
Useful Resources
- The Evolutionary Reason Why We Love Sitting By a Crackling Fire – HuffPost
- 10 Creative DIY Backyard Fire Pits – The Spruce
- 5 Simple Fire Pit Safety Tips to Know – The Environmental Magazine
