Okay, so I’ve been wanting a fire pit in my backyard forever, but the ones at the store are either super flimsy or crazy expensive. Then I thought, “Hey, I can totally do this myself!” And guess what? I did! It was way easier than I expected, and it looks awesome. Here’s how I built my own fire pit using just bricks.
Planning & Prep
First, I picked a spot in my backyard. You gotta make sure it’s away from anything that could catch fire – you know, like trees, fences, or your house! I also checked with my local rules, just to be sure I wasn’t breaking any codes or anything. Safety first, folks!
Then I figured out how big I wanted my fire pit to be. I went with a circular design, about three feet across. I marked the circle on the ground with some spray paint. After that, I dug out the area inside the circle, maybe six inches deep. Just got rid of the grass and loose dirt.
Laying the Foundation
Next up, I dumped a bunch of gravel into the hole. This is for drainage, so water doesn’t pool up in your fire pit and make a muddy mess. I spread it out evenly, then tamped it down real good with a hand tamper. You could probably use a big piece of wood or something if you don’t have a tamper.
Building the Walls
This is where the bricks come in! I bought a bunch of regular old red bricks from the home improvement store. Nothing fancy. I started laying them around the edge of the circle, on top of the gravel. I didn’t use any mortar or anything, just stacked them tightly together.
For the second layer, I staggered the bricks. You know, like how a brick wall looks – the seams don’t line up. This makes it stronger. I just kept adding layers like that until the walls were about a foot high. That seemed like a good height to keep the fire contained, but you can make it higher or lower if you want.
Finishing Touches
I found some capstones, they are flat, to go on top of the walls. They’re a bit wider than the bricks, so they overhang a little. It gives it a more finished look, and it’s a good place to set your drink (when the fire’s not burning, of course!).
And that’s it! Seriously, it was that simple. I built a fire pit in an afternoon, and it cost me way less than buying a pre-made one. Plus, I get to brag that I made it myself! I’m already planning my first marshmallow roast.
I cleaned up the leftover, scattered bricks and dirt.
- Choose a safe location.
- Dig a shallow pit.
- Add gravel for drainage.
- Stack the bricks in a circle.
- Enjoy your new fire pit!
Give it a try! It’s a fun project, and you’ll have a cool fire pit to show for it.
