Oh man, let me tell you about this little project I tackled over the weekend – building a fire pit out of bricks. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for ages, and I finally got around to it. Let me walk you through how it all went down.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered up all my materials. I needed a bunch of regular bricks, the kind you’d use for, you know, building stuff. About 80 of them, I figured, for a decent-sized pit. Also, grabbed some bags of mortar mix, the Type N kind. Five bags should do, I thought.
Picking the Spot
Next up, I picked out the perfect spot in my backyard. I wanted it far enough from the house and trees, but not too far that it’d be a pain to get to. Once I found the spot, I marked out a circle, about 3 feet across. This was going to be the outline of my fire pit.
Digging the Hole
Then came the fun part – digging! I dug out a hole inside the circle, about 1.5 feet deep and 5 feet wide. It was a bit of a workout, but nothing too crazy. I made sure the bottom was nice and level.
Laying the Bricks
Now, onto the bricklaying. I mixed up the mortar according to the instructions on the bag – just add water, basically – and started laying the bricks around the edge of the hole. I did it in sections, about a third of the circle at a time. I put down a layer of mortar, then set the bricks on top, making sure they were level and snug against each other.
Building Up
After the first layer, or course, was done, I let it set for a bit, about 15 minutes, just to firm up. Then, I added another layer of mortar and started on the second course of bricks. I staggered the bricks, like you see in walls, to make it stronger. I kept going like this, building up the walls of the fire pit, one course at a time. I ended up with three courses in total.
Finishing Touches
Once all the bricks were in place, I smoothed out the top layer of mortar to give it a nice, finished look. Then, I just let it all dry and cure for a few days. I didn’t want to rush it and risk messing it up.
First Fire
Finally, the moment of truth! After a few days, I built a small fire in the pit. It was awesome! The fire pit worked perfectly, and it looked pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. We roasted some marshmallows, told some stories, and just enjoyed the warmth and ambiance.
All in all, it was a pretty straightforward project. It took a bit of time and effort, but it was totally worth it. Now I’ve got a great spot to hang out with friends and family on those cool evenings. If you’re thinking about building a fire pit, I say go for it! It’s a fun project, and you’ll love the results.
