How to Build a Recessed Fire Pit
Enjoy the outdoors on cool evenings by gathering around your self-built recessed fire pit. Use the pit for grilling, roasting marshmallows or just as a gathering area for those after-dark scary stories. While it's possible to build a fire pit at ground level or even on a deck or patio surface, a recessed fire pit creates additional safety and allows you to promote better water drainage inside your pit. Building the pit should require no more than a weekend of work, and you can start using your pit immediately. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Stake off the area you wish to place the fire pit, bearing in mind any regulations outlining placement of your fire pit in relation to your home or other buildings. Use a solid length of yarn to outline the shape of the fire pit.
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2
Excavate the fire pit site, digging down to a depth of 18 inches with a shovel. Use the tape measure to make all sides and areas of the fire pit 18 inches from the natural ground level.
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3
Turn the level around on the ground in the excavation site to check for low and high areas. Remove soil from the high areas.
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4
Assemble the walls of the fire pit from the paving stones. The shape of paving stones you use should depend on the intended shape of your fire pit. For circular fire pits, use tapered paving stones that easily create a circular shape when set together. For rectangular or square fire pits, use rectangular or square paving stones. Lay the first row of stones into place against the outer edge of the excavated site, with each stone as close together as possible.
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Stagger the paving stones to build up the walls of the pit. This produces sturdier walls than straight-stacking the stones. Build the walls upward until they protrude approximately 4 inches above the natural level of the ground.
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Fill the fire pit area with a 6-inch layer of turkey gravel. The gravel promotes drainage and prevents water from standing in your fire pit and hindering your attempts to build a fire.
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Tips & Warnings
Check with you local county and city officials to learn any building restrictions in your area specific to fire pits. Local officials can also direct you to the proper offices to obtain building or excavating permits.
