How to Build a Cheap Outdoor Fireplace

Do-it-yourselfers can build a backyard fireplace.

An outdoor fireplace can be a great location for family and friends to gather. People can tell stories, sing songs, and, of course, roast some marshmallows over the fire. But before the s'mores can be made, the fireplace must be built. Building a cheap fireplace in your backyard isn't difficult with the right materials and a little know-how.

Things You'll Need

• Cement mix
• Water
• Wheelbarrow
• Tape measure
• Shovel
• Cement trowel

Instructions

1. Collect stones for your fireplace hearth. Look in the backyard, along the side of the road, in state parks and in other wooded locations. You won't need a lot of them, just a good variety so that you can fit them together.

2. Outline the desired width for your fireplace, using a tape measure. Anything above 1 square yard is sufficient.

3. Dig a hole 6 inches deep with a shovel, clearing out the area.

4. Mix the cement, using your wheelbarrow, shovel, cement mix and water.

5. Pour the cement into the hole. Using your wheelbarrow and shovel, pour and spread the cement so that it takes up the entire space of the hole you dug. Use a cement trowel to smooth the surface. Allow the cement to dry completely.

6. Cement the flattest stones to the cement base, using your cement trowel and stones. Cement other stones on top until you've built a hearth about 2 feet high. Allow the fireplace to set for a day.

Tips & Warnings

• For a little more money, replace the stones with bricks. They will be easier to fit together than random stones.

• Use quick-dry cement to speed the project.

• Clear all brush and overhanging branches from around the fireplace.

• Keep a fire extinguisher or hose near the fireplace while in use.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: Build Your Own Fire Pit
• Ideas for Deck Designs: Build a Fireplace Outdoors
• Ask the Builder: Outdoor Fireplaces