How to Build Your Own Fire Pit

It's summer time - the sunlight is crisp and warm, the lawns are waving with bright, fresh green hues, and birdsong cascades down from the shading trees like droplets of music. There is no better time than now to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. If you have the room in your side or backyard then, why not build a permanent fire pit and enjoy this fine weather with friends and family over the warming glow of licking flames of heat, grilling burgers, and melting S'mores?

Building a fire pit in your yard is a cinch, and with a little hard labor, the proper tools, and fine weather, you can have yours built in a few hours. Here's what you need to know to begin the process, and complete your new pit with style and ease.

Before you build:

1. Safety: The first step you must take with any type of digging in your yard is to ensure that you won't be digging near any underground power, gas, or utility lines. Before you begin, you must call your local gas, waste, cable, and electric utility companies, and have them come out and mark your property where all their underground equipment is buried. To make things easy for home owners, there is often only one phone number that is needed to be dialed. Once this is completed, and you know the safe areas to dig, you may begin in earnest.

2. City/Township guidelines: Unfortunately, not every yard can accommodate a fire pit. Some may just be too small, too cluttered, or simply not have a good spot. But even if you have plenty of room, you still need to call your local city hall, or look on your city's website, and confirm what the guidelines are for putting in a permanent, in-ground fire pit. Each city or township is different, and they may have varying rules about how you may set yours up. But almost certainly, they will have guidelines that mention how large (diameter) your pit can be, the maximum proximity to the property line it can be, how far away from a structure it must be, and more. Check with them to ensure that when you finally do build, you'll place it properly, so you'll have no worries about needing to reverse your work, and start over. This is the "measure twice, cut once" mentality.

3. Placement: Once you know the safe parameters and locations under which you may dig, it's time to choose exactly where you want your fire pit to be. This is based entirely upon personal choice, but I generally recommend a spot between, or around, several trees, a fence, and/or a garage, yet far enough away to ensure safety from the flames, sparks, and ashes. Your main goal here is to go for the proper "feng shui" feeling - you'll want your pit far enough away from structures and trees as to not be a safety issue, but close enough so that it feels "cozy"; you don't want a pit sitting in the middle of the yard. Generally speaking, close to a few trees for shade and cover, and near a structure where you can keep stacked piles of wood will feel right at home. It's all personal choice, but again, be sure you're happy with the placement before you start digging.

Doing the digging:

Now you're ready to begin. You've called the utilities companies, you've read your city guidelines, and you have the exact spot in your yard for your new fire pit. What's next?

1. Marking the spot: Once you know where you want to dig, and you know the maximum diameter you may have your pit, I recommend using a measuring tape, and taking a few simple, thin wooden stakes (around six or so) and pounding them in the ground in a circular fashion around the diameter, to mark your digging. This makes it much easier once you break ground with your spade shovel.

2. Digging: What it all comes down to - physical labor. Once the diameter of your pit is marked, begin breaking up the sod all around your marked circle, and then dig out the earth. If you want to save the sod for some other are of your yard that needs it, now's the time; if not, just dig out all the sod and soil from your pit and place it in a wheelbarrow, for disposal in another area. Check to see if you can place this soil in your garden, or elsewhere, gently spreading it out in small doses. As for your pit, I recommend the "deep, but not too deep" approach; generally, about two, to two and ½ feet is a good depth for a fire pit.

3. Fire bricks: This is the last step; once your fit is dug to your satisfaction, you'll need to place a fire-proof ring of material around the top outer edge. You may use stone or brick, but for a really nice look, I recommend using what's known as retaining wall bricks. Used for just that - retaining walls - they offer up a very nice, clean look to any fire pit, and can be found at any "big box" store, or local lumberyard outlet. There are many to choose from, so just find something that fits your aesthetic taste and budget (some can be quite expensive). One thing you need to remember: before you purchase them at the store, I recommend you lay them out on the floor, and measure them, so you'll find the exact ones that will feet in a perfectly matched diameter to your pit; the ones you have your heart set on may not end up fitting due to their size. Again, measure twice, "cut"/purchase once. Once found, you can also decide if you want just one layer around the diameter, sitting on the ground, or dig in and have them flush in the soil. It's up to you, but I prefer them sitting on the earth, as I enjoy the raised up look.

That's it! Your fire pit is now complete, and should only take you a few hours from start to finish, once you've heard back from the utility companies. It's now time for your very first fire, but before you begin, refer one last time to your city's guidelines - you may need to call in your recreational fire to a city hotline, and there may also be a burning ban in effect; it's always prudent to check before you burn each and every time.

Once you're ready to go, grab your friends and family, and fire it up. Lose yourself to the licking flames, and as the stories begin to rise like the shimmering heat, don't forget to serve up the S'mores.