Okay, so I’ve always wanted a fire pit in my backyard, you know, for those chill summer nights, roasting marshmallows, and just hanging out. I saw some cool ones online, but they were all, like, super expensive. Then I stumbled upon this “brick bomb” fire pit idea, and I thought, “Hey, I can totally do this!”
Gathering the Supplies
First things first, I needed bricks. Lots of them. I didn’t want to buy new ones, so I checked out some local construction sites and asked if they had any leftover bricks they were getting rid of. One site had a whole pile, and the foreman was happy to let me take as many as I wanted! Score!
Besides bricks, I also grabbed:
- A shovel, because, you know, digging.
- A level, to make sure things weren’t all wobbly.
- Some gravel, for the base.
- Gloves.
The Build Process
I marked out a circular * Remove any grass or anything else in that area.
Next, I started laying the bricks. I put down a layer of gravel first, to help with drainage and keep the bottom layer from sinking into the dirt. I just eyeballed it, making sure the gravel layer was kinda even.
Then came the fun part – stacking the bricks! I started laying the first layer in a circle, following the outline I’d marked. No mortar or anything, just stacking them tightly together. I used the level every few bricks to make sure it wasn’t leaning too much in one direction. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, that’s part of the charm, right?
I kept adding layers, staggering the bricks like you’re supposed to (I think). Each layer got a little smaller in diameter than the one below it, creating that inward slope of the fire pit. It was kind of like building with giant LEGOs, except heavier and dirtier.
Once I got to the height I wanted (about four layers), I was pretty much done! I filled in any big gaps between bricks with smaller pieces, just to make it a bit more solid.
Then Stood back and admired the new brick bomb fire pit.
First Fire!
That night, I grabbed some firewood, invited a few friends over, and we had our first fire. It worked perfectly! The bricks held the heat well, and the fire burned nicely. We roasted marshmallows, told some stories, and just enjoyed the warm glow. It was exactly what I’d hoped for.
Honestly, this was a super satisfying project. It was cheap, relatively easy, and now I have an awesome fire pit that I built myself. If you’re thinking about building one, I say go for it! Just be prepared to get a little dirty, and maybe lift some heavy bricks.
