How to Build a Firepit in Your Backyard

There is nothing so cozy, or so relaxing as a campfire. However, you cannot just light a fire anywhere. Before you put a match to that wood, you need to know how to build a fire pit in your backyard. It is not difficult, and can be completed in 1 to 2 hours.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. The first step to build a fire pit in your backyard is to decide on the size. Do you want a large fire pit 4 feet across? Or, do you want a cozy fire 2 to 3 feet across? Think about the options; do you want it just for decoration? Or, do you want to use it to grill food? These are some questions you must ask yourself before you choose how to build a fire pit in your backyard.

2. Next you must choose your placement. Of course, you must NEVER place your fire pit near your home, your garage, or any other combustible material such as; trees, brush, tall dry grass, etc. However, you will want to place your fire pit where it is pleasing to the eye and accessible from your home. In addition, as a rule, whenever you are around a fire, be sure to have a water source readily available. You can use a bucket of water, a hose, or at the very least a bucket of sand.

3. Dig a hole of the diameter of you desire, and approximately 12 to 18 inches deep. Next line the rim of your fire pit with the 4-to12 inch diameter stones. Arrange these in a ring around the edge of the fire pit. Look at the rocks and place them in a way in which they are stable. For added safety, double of the ring. In other words, make two rings around each other so that you end up with a wide rock fire ring.

4. 
   How to builda firepit in your back-yard

   As a nice addition, you can add an air pipe to feed more air into the bottom of the fire pit. Look at the diagram (do not laugh at my drawing; I never claimed to be an artist). Bury a 1 inch steel pipe that begins at the bottom of the fire pit, through the ground, to outside the outside edge of the fire ring. This will add additional oxygen to help your fire burned more robustly. In a larger fire pit you could use two or three of these buried pipes. However, do not go overboard. If you add too many pipes, your fire pit will become a forge.

5. As an added touch, you can have two pieces of rebar that span the diameter of the fire pit. Place a grill grate on the rebar and now you have an outstanding wood-fired cooking surface.

[gatorgirl182]

on 11/14/2009 Nothing better than roasted weenies and marshmallows over the fire pit! But it would be better with somebody to cozy up to beside of one! :)
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