Okay, so I decided to build a fire pit in my backyard. I’ve always wanted one, and after looking at some ridiculously priced options online, I figured, “Heck, I can do this myself!” And you know what? It turned out to be a pretty fun project.
Planning and Prep
First things first, I had to figure out where to put it. I picked a spot that was far enough away from the house, trees, and anything else that could potentially catch fire. Safety first, people! Then, I measured out a circular area—I went for about four feet in diameter. I used some spray paint to mark the circle on the grass.
Next up was gathering the materials. I needed:
- Bricks: I chose regular old red bricks. Nothing fancy, just durable. I did some rough calculations and ended up getting around, like, 80 bricks. Better to have too many than not enough, right?
- Gravel: A few bags for the base. This helps with drainage.
- Sand: Also for the base, to level things out.
- A shovel: Obviously.
- A level: Super important to make sure things aren’t wonky.
- A tamper: to make compacted base.
- A rubber mallet: to gentle tap.
Building the Base
I started by digging out the circle I marked, going down about six inches. This was probably the most tiring part, honestly. Then, I poured in a layer of gravel, maybe two or three inches deep, and used the tamper to pack it down really tight. After the gravel, I added a layer of sand, about an inch or so, and used the level to make sure it was, well, level.
Laying the Bricks
This was the fun part! I started laying the bricks around the edge of the circle, standing them up vertically. I didn’t use any mortar or anything – I just wanted a simple, dry-stack fire pit. I kept going around, making sure the bricks were snug against each other. I used the rubber mallet to gently tap them into place and make sure they were all even.
For the second layer, I staggered the bricks, like you do when building a wall. This makes it more stable. I kept going up, adding a third and fourth layer, checking the level every so often. And make sure the bricks are fit tightly.
The Final Touches
Once I was happy with the height, I called it a day! I stepped back and admired my handiwork. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. I threw in some logs, lit a fire, and roasted some marshmallows with the kids. It was the perfect way to end a productive day.
Honestly, the whole thing took me a weekend, working on and off. It wasn’t rocket science, and it saved me a ton of money compared to buying a pre-made fire pit. Plus, there’s something really satisfying about building something yourself, you know? If you’re thinking about doing it, I say go for it! Just be prepared to get a little dirty.
