A great fire pit or a fireplace is an excellent catalyst for good conversation, an excuse to relax outdoors away from technology, or enjoy the beauty that exists in your own backyard.
When considering making the addition of a fire pit or place, there are several things to consider:
Budget
There’s a wide range of options when it comes to selecting the perfect fire pit or fire place for your backyard.
A fire pit using electrical lights
Location
Laying out your ideal backyard takes intentionality. A well thought-out yard is key to achieving that natural seamless feeling of space. Before deciding upon where you would like to put a fire pit or fireplace, you should visualize and plan the entirety of your yard to maximize the use of your property.
Wood/Gas
Another item to consider is if you want a wood or gas burning fireplace or pit. This decision will drive other necessary components (like gas lines or wood piles) to ensure a smooth running and usable space. Keep in mind, many cities in South Dakota have “No Burn Days” which mean wood burning fireplaces or fire pits are not allowed. You can use a LP fireplace or fire pit. Do not place it under trees or nest to the house or buildings, always consider SAFETY.
Ambiance
Lastly, to maximize the atmosphere that a fire can bring to any event, other elements such as seating need to be taken into consideration. A cozy built-in seating area or a sunken bench nestled next to a designated fire area can help provide the right environment for snuggling up and enjoying the relaxing warmth available from this amenity.
How To Build A Fire Pit
Step 1. Start With The Base
Now, lay down the curved blocks (retaining blocks) on the ground and piece together to make a circle. Mark three inches from the concrete base or outline with a pointed shovel. Hold the shovel down and dig all the way around the ring to make an outline.
Step 2. Dig A Hole
Next is to get the blocks out of the way so we can dig a hole in the outline. If you are building your fire pit over your grass lawn, you might want to save it, so you can patch the area around the fire pit. Using a square shovel, slide it underneath the grass and save as much as you can of it. Now dig a hole a foot deep into the ground and tamp it up a bit. If your soil is a hard clay, you can dig another hole in the center, so rainwater can drain through. Fill it with crushed stones for drainage.
Step 3. Form Foundation
Pour over the crushed stones in the hole and spread it evenly to about an inch or two thick. Take the hand tamper to pack and level it down. Lay another layer of crushed rocks of the same thickness and repeat the process. This will allow you to properly tamp and level the crushed rocks. Repeat the process until you’ve reached the level of about four inches to the surface. Take in mind that the first layer of blocks is going to sit in level with the grass.
Step 4. Stack Blocks
Take your steel fire-pit ring with cooking grates and place it in the middle of the foundation as a guide to set the blocks around. Take the precast blocks and start leveling them out around the ring. Lay your first block and set it tight against the ring. Use the rubber mallet and tap the block down to set. Use a leveling tool to make sure the structure will be leveled. Set the other blocks tight around the ring following the same steps.
Step 5. Add Layers
With the first level of blocks set, take out the ring so you can work on the rest of the levels. Take out your caulk gun and concrete adhesive and apply a small amount of it on either side of block’s joint. Set another brick on top of the first layer making sure it sits centered on the joint. Continue with the rest of the blocks and add two more layers.
Step 6. Add The Fire Pit Ring
Get the steel fire pit ring and place it over the fire pit. Pour crushed rocks over the pit, filling it up to the baseline of the steel ring. The rocks will protect the base blocks from the heat of the fire. Use your shovel to rake the rocks to the sides so that it has a low spot in the center for making fire. Lastly, take some of the soil you’ve dug from the pit and fill the sides around the pit. You can also take the grass strips and replace it around the firepit.
There you have it! An easy and budget-friendly fire pit your family can spend time around. Waste no time testing your finished fire pit and plan a cookout under the stars!
