DIY Concrete Forms for a Fire Pit
There is nothing like an outdoor fire pit to bring people together at night, to roast marshmallows and tell stories and maybe even camp out. A fire pit made of rocks that you find lying around may work for a makeshift fire pit, but if you have a place you like to visit regularly, you may want something bigger and more permanent than just rocks arranged in a circle. In that case, you could build a fire pit out of concrete. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Excavate the area you want to place the fire pit in to a depth of 8 to 10 inches.
-
2
Fasten the 2 by 12 lumber upright in place using wooden stakes. Your goal is to build a square box inside another, larger, square box. Build a small square with the stakes inside, then a large square concentric with the first, with the stakes on the outside. Hammer the stakes into the ground, then lean the lumber against them and nail the lumber into the stakes to hold them in place.
The larger square should be between 12 and 16 inches larger, to create walls for the pit that are 6 to 8 inches thick.
-
-
3
Mix the concrete and water in the wheelbarrow according to the instructions on the package.
-
4
Pour the concrete into the form and use the 2 by 4 to make the top of the concrete exactly flush with the top of the forms.
-
5
Allow the concrete to dry for at least two days before removing the wooden forms.
-
6
Back fill around the fire pit (but not inside it) with the dirt you previously excavated. The concrete will fully cure in about one month.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
You can make the pit as deep or shallow as you want, but 1 foot is a good depth to allow for debris at the bottom, and pile of wood to burn, while keeping everything contained.
References
- Photo Credit camping fire image by sumos from Fotolia.com
