Alright, folks, let’s talk about this fire pit project I just wrapped up. I’ve been wanting a nice spot in my backyard to just chill out and maybe roast some marshmallows, and I figured, why not build a fire pit? I’m not exactly a pro at this stuff, but I’m pretty handy, so I thought I’d give it a shot.
First off, I did a little digging around online to see what kind of fire pits were out there. I saw a bunch of different styles, but I decided to go with a simple square design using bricks. I liked the idea of a brick fire pit because it seemed pretty straightforward to build, and it looked like it would fit in well with my backyard.
After I had a rough plan in mind, I went and gathered all the stuff I needed. The main thing was bricks, obviously. I found some Belgian wedge wall bricks at the local hardware store, and I ended up getting around 96 of them. I also grabbed some gravel for the base, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
I started by picking the perfect spot in my backyard. I wanted it somewhere that was far enough from the house and any trees, you know, safety first! Once I found the spot, I marked out a square area where the fire pit was going to go.
The first important part.
- First I started to dig.
- Second I marked a square area.
Next, I got to work digging. I dug out the area inside the square I marked, making it a few inches deep. I made sure the ground was nice and level, because I didn’t want a wonky fire pit. After that, I spread a layer of gravel in the bottom of the hole. This was to help with drainage and to give the fire pit a solid base.
The second important part.
- First I spread a layer of gravel.
- Second I made sure the ground was nice and level.
With the base all set, it was time to start laying bricks. I started with the first layer, arranging the bricks in a square, making sure they were nice and snug against each other. I used a level to check that everything was straight. I kept adding layers of bricks, staggering the joints to make the walls stronger. It was kind of like building with giant LEGOs, except way heavier.
I kept building up the walls, layer by layer, until the fire pit was the height I wanted. I think I ended up with about four or five layers of bricks. I made sure to leave a little space at the bottom for airflow, because you need that for a good fire. Once the walls were done, I let everything set for a day or two, just to make sure the bricks were solid.
Finally, the fire pit was ready! I threw some logs in there, lit it up, and just sat back and enjoyed the warmth. It was pretty awesome seeing something I built with my own two hands actually working. Plus, the marshmallows tasted extra good roasted over that fire. So yeah, that’s my fire pit story. It wasn’t too hard to build, and it’s definitely a nice addition to my backyard. If you’re thinking about building one yourself, I say go for it! Just make sure you do your research and be careful, and you’ll have a sweet fire pit in no time.
Mission Accomplished.
