So, let me tell you about this little project I took on last weekend – building a brick fire pit in my backyard. I’ve always wanted a nice, cozy spot to hang out with friends and family, and I figured, why not just make one myself? Plus, it’s way cheaper than hiring someone, and you get to customize it exactly how you want.
First things first, I needed bricks. I went with these Belgian wedge wall bricks, got about 96 of them. They’re nothing fancy, but they do the job. I also grabbed some gravel while I was at the store.
Next up, figuring out where to put this thing. I picked a spot in the yard that’s far enough from the house and any trees, you know, safety first. Once I had my spot, I started planning out the circle. I used a stick and some string to mark it out. It was about 3 feet across, so it took 3 times to arrange the first layer. I was just eyeballing it, really, trying to get it as round as possible.
Once I had the first layer down, I just kept adding more bricks, stacking them up. Make sure each layer is leveled, I didn’t use any mortar or anything, just stacked them real tight. Took me three layers to get the height I wanted.
- Materials I gathered:
- 96 Belgian wedge wall bricks
- A few bags of gravel
- A bucket of river rock
- A bucket of lava rock
- A bucket of sand
- Filter fabric
Then, I laid down some filter fabric inside the circle and dumped a layer of gravel on top. It’s just regular old gravel, nothing special. After that, I put a big bucket in the center of gravel and pour river rock around the outside of the bucket. Then I pour sand inside the bucket and put lava rock on the top. I guess this helps with drainage and keeps the fire from getting too crazy.
Finally, I threw some firewood in there, lit it up, and boom! Instant fire pit. It’s not perfect, a little rough around the edges, but it works! We roasted some marshmallows that night, and it was awesome.
All in all, it was a pretty easy project. Cost me around 50 bucks, which is way better than what I saw online for pre-made ones. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, I say go for it. It’s a fun way to spend a weekend, and you end up with a cool spot to chill out.
