Okay, so I’ve always wanted a fire pit in my backyard. You know, somewhere to chill with friends, roast some marshmallows, just enjoy those cool evenings. I finally decided to stop dreaming and actually build one. And I figured, why not use bricks? They’re classic, sturdy, and I liked the look.
Getting Started
First things first, I picked a spot. It needed to be away from the house, away from any overhanging trees, and generally just in a safe, open area. I marked out a circle, roughly four feet in diameter – that seemed like a good size for a small gathering.
Next, I got digging. I wanted the base of the fire pit to be slightly below ground level, so I dug down about six or seven inches. I made sure the bottom of the hole was fairly level, tamped it down with my feet, and called that step done.
Laying the Foundation
Then, I dumped in some gravel. This is important for drainage, so rainwater doesn’t just pool up in your fire pit. I spread it out evenly, maybe four inches thick. Again, I used my feet to really pack it down.
Building the Walls
Now for the bricks! I started laying them around the edge of the circle, dry-fitting them first to make sure they’d all fit nicely. I wasn’t using any mortar or anything – just stacking them. I made sure to stagger the joints, like you see in a regular brick wall, for extra stability.
I slowly added the bricks and built the circular wall higher.
I kept building up the layers, checking every so often to make sure things were staying relatively level. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, it’s a fire pit, not a fancy house! I ended up with about four layers of bricks, which brought the walls up to a good height above ground.
Finishing Touches
I went around the top of the fire pit and adjusted bricks that seemed to be sticking out.
Finally, I threw in some larger stones in the very bottom, just to fill in the space a bit and make it look nicer. And that was it! My very own brick fire pit.
The First Fire!
Of course, I had to test it out. I gathered some dry wood, got a fire going, and… success! It worked perfectly. We sat around, enjoyed the warmth, and I felt pretty darn proud of my little DIY project.
It’s not fancy, but it’s functional, and it was surprisingly easy to build. If you’re thinking about making your own fire pit, I say go for it! Just remember to be safe, check your local fire codes, and have fun with it.
