Okay, folks, let’s talk about how I finally built that fire pit I’ve been dreaming about. I’m no expert, just a regular guy who likes to get his hands dirty, so if I can do it, you probably can too!
Planning and Gathering
First things first, I picked a spot in my backyard. I made sure it was far enough away from the house, trees, and anything else that could catch fire. Safety first, you know? Then, I kinda eyeballed the size I wanted – not too big, not too small, just right for a cozy gathering.
Next, I gathered my materials. This is what my supply list looked like:
- A bunch of bricks. I got mine used from and old man, because it looks cool.
- Some gravel for the base. Keeps things draining properly.
- Sand. A thin layer for leveling everything out.
- A shovel. Gotta dig, right?
- A level. To prevent something looks weird.
- A tamper. To pack everything down nice and tight.
- Gloves.
Digging and Laying the Foundation
I started digging! I made a circular hole, maybe six inches deep, and a bit wider than I wanted the final fire pit to be. It didn’t have to be perfect, but I tried to make the bottom as flat as I could.
Then, I dumped in the gravel and spread it around. I used the tamper to really pack it down. This is important – you want a solid base so your fire pit doesn’t sink or shift over time.
After the gravel, I added a thin layer of sand. This helped me get everything perfectly level. I used my level and just kept adjusting the sand until it was all nice and even.
Building the Walls
Now for the fun part – stacking the bricks! I started laying the first layer in a circle, right on top of the sand. I didn’t use any mortar or anything, just dry-stacked them. I made sure to stagger the joints, like you see in a regular brick wall. It makes it stronger, and it looks better too, in my own opinion.
I just kept building up the layers, checking with my level every now and then to make sure things were staying straight. I went up about four layers high, which felt like a good height for containing the fire without being too tall.
The Final Touches
Once the walls were up,I decided to put some extra gravel around the outside of the fire pit, just to make it look a little nicer and help with drainage. To be honest, I just kept stacking it, layer by layer. I took my time, no rush.
And that’s it! I built a fire pit. It’s not fancy, but it’s solid, and it works. The first time I lit a fire in it, it felt pretty darn good. Nothing beats sitting around a fire you built yourself, right?
