How to Build a Fire Pit for a Patio

A simple home improvement job that can bring you years of enjoyment is building a patio fire pit. Imagine sitting around the fire with your friends and family at the end of a summer cookout, or huddling around the fire on those crisp autumn nights. Roast marshmallows over the fire, or lay a grill on top and cook some hot dogs. A patio fire pit is an inexpensive way to allow you to enjoy your backyard even more. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Decide how big your fire pit will be, and where exactly it will go. Follow any regulations from the local zoning board about the size and location, and avoid putting it near anything that could be a fire hazard.

2

Mark off the area of your fire pit. A good way to do this is to drive a pole into the middle of the area, and tie a string to it that is half the radius of the pit (for example, for a 4-foot-wide pit, the string should be 2 feet long).

3

Dig a hole 12 inches deep in the marked-off area. Put 6 inches of gravel into the hole, smoothing the pile with a rake each time you add more gravel.

4

Add a layer of sand 6 inches deep over the gravel. Use the rake to smooth out the sand, and then tamp it down to compact it.

5

Begin laying the flagstone around the outside of the pit, filling in the gaps with mortar. As you add layers, stagger them, and wipe off any mortar you get on the front of them. Use a chipping hammer to shape the stone if you need to.

6

Build the stone up 8 to 12 inches high (or higher if your zoning board requires it). Give the mortar a few days to set, and you're ready to hang out around your backyard bonfire.