San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
How to build a fire pit
Keep the home fires burning – comfortably in your backyard
Lack a fireplace in your home? Enjoy outdoor entertaining and alfresco gatherings on your property? Want a reason to head outside your back door in the colder months? Consider adding a fire pit to your yard, the experts suggest.
“Fire pits are a great way to bring people together for relaxing and enter taining guests. Additionally, they can add value to your home and become a focal point of your outdoor space,” said Mike Evans, CEO of Chicago-based Fixer.com, a vir tual home repair ser vice.
In the era of COVID-19, when staycations are all the rage, roasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories, sharing a toast and stargazing while sitting safely and comfortably around a roaring fire sounds pretty enticing.
“A fire pit also provides heat so that you’re able to entertain outdoors longer throughout the year and later into the night,” noted Marc Broussard with BBQGUYS, a online retailer of grilling and outdoor living products based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “Also, it’s a nice complement to an outdoor kitchen if you have one.”
But not just any old fire pit will do. The por table metal ones tend to rust and fall apart quickly, becoming an eyesore before long. That’s why the pros recommend building a wood-burning fire pit using materials designed to last.
“This can actually be a really simple project that doesn’t cost much and allows you to customize the look and appearance to meet your personal aesthetics and needs,” said Yuka Kato, an industr y analyst with Fixr.com. This Wilmington, Delawareheadquartered site matches homeowners with contractors in their area.
First, pick a location that’s at least 15 feet away from a home or garage exterior or deck — a flat area of your yard with no low-hanging trees or branches nearby. Next, decide how large you want your fire pit circle to be (experts often recommend three to six feet wide) and mark out the area. Remove any grass or organic matter within the circle. If you prefer a sunken fire pit,
dig out the soil to a preferred depth evenly within your circle. Measure and record your circle's circumference and head to the home improvement store for your materials.
Opt for non-combustible exterior pavers or blocks made from stone, brick or concrete in your preferred shape, size and color, knowing that you'll likely need two to four tiers of stacked blocks for the job.
“Also, pick up some gravel or sand you can add the floor of the fire pit for drainage and to keep it from sinking,” Evans recommended. “And if you want a permanent fire pit, purchase masonry adhesive or mortar, too.”
Lay the first level of blocks closely together around the circle, make sure each block is level and even; use a carpenter's level, string line and a rubber mallet, gently tapping down any paver with the mallet as needed. Stack the next layer of blocks in a staggered fashion — each row should overlap the ver tical joint of the two blocks beneath it. Apply mor tar or masonr y adhesive, if desired, between layers. Lastly, apply and pat down your gravel/ sand base.
If you want an even more elaborate fire pit with a constant fuel source, consider hiring a professional to build you one served by a permanent natural gas line.
“Fire pits with a gas burner and patio area can recoup as much as 67 percent in investment when it's time to sell your property,” said Joe Raboine, director of Residential Hardscapes for Belgard, the Atlanta-based maker of concrete pavers and landscape block.
With proper care, a well-built fire pit can last a lifetime (although gas burners usually need to be replaced ever y 10 years or so).
“Be aware that the heat from wood-burning permanent fire pits can crack and deteriorate the blocks in the enclosure, requiring replacement of those blocks ever y so often,” Broussard cautioned. “But otherwise, the good news is that fire pits require virtually no maintenance.”
Before investing in this project, “consult with your local municipality, as it may have local ordinances that need to be followed for installing fire pits,” Raboine said.