You wanna build one of them fire pits, huh? With them bricks? I seen them on the TV, lookin’ all fancy. Well, it ain’t as hard as them city folk make it out to be. I tell ya, you can do it yourself, no problem. Just gotta get your hands dirty a little.
First off, you gotta figure out where you want this thing. Not too close to the house, mind ya. Don’t want no fires jumpin’ where they ain’t supposed to. And not under no trees neither. Gotta be a clear spot, you see. Some folks like it in the middle of the yard, some like it off to the side. It’s up to you, really.
Then, you gotta get them bricks. Now, don’t go usin’ just any old brick. You need them special fire bricks. They’re tougher, you see. Regular bricks, they might crack and pop when it gets real hot. Ain’t nobody got time for that. Them fire bricks, they can take the heat. They cost a bit more, but it’s worth it, I tell ya. They are thicker and wider than regular bricks. That is why they are better. If you use normal bricks, they will crack. And you will waste your money and time. So remember, get the right bricks.
- Get them fire bricks
- Find a good spot away from the house and trees
- Don’t use regular bricks, they’ll crack
Once you got your spot picked out, you gotta mark it. Some folks use spray paint, some just use a stick to scratch out a circle in the dirt. I like to keep it simple. A circle’s about right for a fire pit. Make it big enough to sit around comfortably, but not so big you can’t roast your marshmallows. It is up to you how big you want it.
After you made your circle, you need to dig. You just need a shovel. And dig down about, oh, I don’t know, six inches or so. Just enough to make a little dip in the ground. Then, you might want to put down some of that weed blocker fabric. Keeps the weeds from poppin’ up in your fire pit. Nobody wants that. And then you will need some gravel. Put a layer of gravel in the hole that you just digged. This will be good for your fire pit.
Now comes the fun part – layin’ them bricks. Start at the bottom and work your way up. Just stack ’em up in a circle, one on top of the other. No need for that fancy mortar stuff if you don’t want it. Just make sure they’re nice and snug. You want them to fit together tight, so the fire don’t sneak out through the cracks. You know, just keep stacking and try to make it pretty.
Keep stackin’ them bricks until your fire pit is as tall as you want it. Some folks like ’em knee-high, some like ’em a little taller. It’s all up to you. Just make sure it’s sturdy. Don’t want it toppling over when you’re roasting weenies, now do we? Remember, be safe and make sure your fire pit won’t fall.
- Dig a hole, not too deep
- Put down some gravel
- Stack them bricks in a circle
Once you got your bricks all stacked up, you might wanna put a little gravel or sand in the bottom. Helps with drainage, they say. And keeps things lookin’ tidy. Or, you can use some river rock around. Just make sure you have something on the bottom. It will help your fire pit last longer. Then you can put some wood in. The wood should be dry. If it is wet, it won’t burn good.
And that’s about it! You got yourself a brick fire pit. Now all you gotta do is light a fire and enjoy it. Invite some friends over, roast some marshmallows, tell some stories. Just be careful with that fire, now. Don’t want no accidents. Keep a bucket of water nearby, just in case. And don’t let the kids get too close. Fire is fun, but it can be dangerous if you are not careful. You can make this fire pit for around $50. So it is cheap.
See? Building a fire pit ain’t so hard. Just takes a little elbow grease and some common sense. And remember, use them fire bricks! Don’t say I didn’t warn ya. Now go on, get to buildin’! You can do it yourself! And you will have a nice fire pit in your backyard. That is for sure. So, if you want to have a good time, build one. It is easy and cheap. And fun!
