Building A Block Fire Pit

178 mm wide to create a foundation for the blocks.

Building a block fire pit.

Then mark the location of the blocks with a shovel and remove the blocks and sod. If your fire pit will mostly be enjoyed by you and your family or if you prefer a more rustic look a modern fire pit built out of retaining wall blocks or a timesaving fire pit project kit may be ideal. The secret to these super low costs is the basic building materials used to form the fire pits such as bricks pavers concrete and retaining wall blocks. Cinder blocks retaining wall stones 41 98 each a bag of sand a bag of pea pebbles a bag of lava rocks a level a shovel a wheelbarrow a mallet a tape measure.

Nearly every fire pit in this gallery costs between 50 and 150. Planning for a custom fire pit we built our fire pit on the lawn from regular retaining wall blocks lined with clay fire bricks you can also build your pit on a patio. Hold the block over the gap it will fill then mark it on the underside at the proper width. Rectangular blocks make it easy to adjust the layout to a size that works well for your design.

Check the base at several points to be sure it is level and make. Building a fire pit yourself offers room for customization on every detail size included. 75 mm deep and 7 in. If you are building on soil layout the first course of the fire pit to determine the location.

If the circle is more than an inch or two uneven remove the higher bricks and dig out the dirt underneath until they re level with the rest. To adjust the size of the circle you may need to cut a block. Using a level make sure the bricks are relatively even all the way around. Dry lay a ring of blocks on the fire pit site placing them end to end until you have a perfect circle positioned where you want the finished pit to be.

Using blocks of a different style can also change the look of your fire pit. Other types of fire pits can be made using repurposed materials such as metal planters flower pots and even glass. Local ordinances permitting your fire pit should ideally measure between 36 and 44 inches wide including. Dig a level trench that is 3 in.

If you frequently host lots of outdoor parties with many guests or want your pit to match an existing patio consider building a fire pit in ground with a paver surround.