Okay, so I’ve always wanted a fire pit in my backyard. You know, somewhere to chill with friends, roast marshmallows, and just enjoy the outdoors. I finally decided to stop dreaming and actually build one, and I went with brick because it looks classic and sturdy. Let me tell you, it was a bit of a project, but totally worth it!
Getting Started
First things first, I picked a spot. It had to be away from the house, trees, and anything that could catch fire. Safety first, people! Then, I marked out a circle – I used a stake and some string to get it nice and round. I think it was about 4 feet in diameter, but you do you.
Digging and Laying the Foundation
Next up, the fun part (not really): digging! I dug out the circle, going down about 6 inches. This was to make space for a gravel base. Speaking of gravel, I dumped a bunch of paver base in there and tamped it down real good. I used one of those hand tamper, it made the base super solid and level.
This is important because you don’t want a wonky fire pit.
Building the Walls
Now for the bricks! I got a whole bunch of regular old bricks from the home improvement store. I started laying them around the circle, staggering the joints like you see in a brick wall. It’s kinda like playing with giant LEGOs. I used mortar to hold them all the bricks. and had to mix it up first – it’s like making concrete, but for sticking bricks together.
- Tip: I used a level constantly to make sure each brick was straight and even. This part takes some patience!
I built up the walls layer by layer, checking the level as I went. I think I ended up with about four layers of bricks, making the pit about a foot high. Again, you can adjust this to your liking.
Finishing Touches
Once the mortar was dry (which took a day or two), I filled the bottom of the pit with some more gravel. This helps with drainage and keeps the fire from sitting directly on the ground. I used pea gravel.
And… that’s it! Seriously. It took a weekend of work, and yeah, my back was a little sore, but I had a fire pit!
The first time I lit a fire in it, it felt awesome. I mean, I built that! We roasted hot dogs, made s’mores, and just sat around talking. It was exactly what I’d envisioned. If you’re thinking about building your own fire pit, I say go for it. It’s a rewarding project, and you’ll get tons of enjoyment out of it.
