Outdoor Fire Pit

An outdoor fire pit can provide warmth, elegance and a unique feature for your outdoor living spaces. It can really be entertaining to spend time around the fire pit with your friends and loved ones. You can buy units that cost about $10,000 apiece, or you can also design and build one of your own. You can buy a fire pit kit that includes easy instructions to help you build one; alternatively, you can opt to purchase your own materials and let your imagination run free while creating the outdoor fireplace of your dreams. Not to mention, building your own fire pit can help you save a great deal than buying a ready made model.

It is important that you get the necessary permit first before building your own outdoor fire pit, as certain local laws may prevent you from building structures on your property without proper permits. This is especially the case if your house is part of a Home Owner's Association. Once you have the necessary permit, you can now acquire the various materials needed for your pit. You'll want to check with a few different stores in your area to determine which manufacturer offers the lowest prices. Some of the materials you will need are cement, bricks, trowels, shovels and more.

The first step in building outdoor fire pits is to choose the ideal location. Place a wooden rod at the center of the area. Get a string of about 10 1/2 inch long, knot the end of the string to wooden rod and attach a can of spray paint to the other end. Make a circle with the use of the string; ensure that the string is stretched tightly, in order to create a perfect round circle. Then get another string that measures 22 1/2 inches long, and make another circle. Now with the help of the two circles you have made, dig a 10 inch deep gutter with a width of 12 inches.

The next step is to place 2 inches of gravel inside the gutter that will serve as a lining. Compress the gravel until it becomes solid and firm, and once this is complete, you can now cover it with concrete, making sure it's level with the ground. To prevent air pockets, smooth it with the use of a shovel and level it with the use of a 2x4. Smooth the surface with the use of your trowel and then cover it up with plastic and let it dry for two days. Remove the plastic cover after two days and let it dry again in open-air.

The next thing that you have to do is to smooth the mortar out, with the help of water. Place a manhole block of about six inches inside the mortar and then place another one beside it. Make sure the top of the blocks is unvarying in pattern; you can do this by using the 2x4 scraps. Leave about 3/4 inch gaps to provide proper ventilation to your outdoor fire pit.

Next is to create the second layer of your fire pit by layering another manhole block of about six inches. Make sure that the blocks are placed evenly with the others. For more detailed instructions, representatives at stores like Lowe's and Home Depot can offer advice, as well as direct you to books or instructional manuals with pictures and step-by-step guidelines. Following all these steps can help you build a fabulous outdoor fire pit of your own that will provide you with warmth and enhance the beauty of your backyard.