There are many questions out there for people looking to build their own home fire pit. Where do I get fire brick? Do I need fire brick? How deep should I go? What are the laws for fire in my area? I started my fire pit because the cost to have one installed was quite high 1400.00 dollars to be exact. The reason is most people today do not know enough to build one. Our ancestors when they needed something forged it, crafted it, or built with their own hands. You can do the same thing if you have hands or know someone who does. So let me explain concrete, concrete is to an extent fire proof. Concrete will degrade after many, many years but if you are not applying direct high intensity heat to it like with a cutting torch it will not break or explode. So the sides of the fire pit can be built from standard brick you can pick up at Home Depot, Lowes, or garden centers. If you must have fire brick you have to check at local stores who specialize in fire bricks and fire clays, this will get costly. The bottom of your fire pit in my opinion does need a bit more than concrete. Typically fire resistant mortar and standard red brick will work or you or you can use a combination of the mortar and canyon rock also available at your local hardware store. The bottom of the pit will always be the hottest, remember earth science classes. The coals are the hottest part of the fire so make your bottom thick and durable. You will also want to clean it from time to time so a smooth surface for shovel use is quite important.
After you pick your location for the fire you will want to figure your shape. I myself wanted a circular pit so just like the ancient ancestors I measured out some twine to the size I figured I would be happy with. I then squared up the center point to installed hammocks, swings, etc. After the center point is figured, drive a stake into the center, a round stake is your best bet here. Tie the twine to the stake leaving a loop in it so it will not tangle. Tie the other end to a cutting instrument, pull tight and cut in your circle. After the circle is cut in begin to dig out the area. Keep your edges nice and flat going back to check with length of twine. After the pit is in place and you are at the right depth(1-2 feet) take a heavy flat board and pack all the loose dirt down from the middle out to the edges. Once you have it level and smooth lay out your wall bricks and make sure they place against the wall well. then layout your base.
LOWES PATIO DOORS
Now you have to mix your mortar, make sure your mortar is the right consistency you want it to stick to the bricks and not fall off. Pick up your mock up bricks you placed in the pit and lay in your mortar. Place your bottom bricks hole up, this will allow for drainage when it rains. Pat the base bricks down with a rubber mallet or a board. After your base is down start your side wall, the main focus here is to follow your pattern up the sides of the pit. Take care to fill in the triangle shape the corner of the bricks make, this is important for the last step in the pit. Once your base is down and you have the first ring of wall brick in place take a stick and poke holes in the center of the base bricks until you hit ground. Now continue your side wall. Once you are flush with the ground you want to lay your next ring of bricks flat and continue your circle. That's it your fire pit is complete. Let it dry for a few days and then enjoy. If you want to get creative you can inlay something in the triangle shapes on the surface ring.
How to Build a Free Form Fire PitLOWES PATIO DOORS
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