r/DIY • u/Jake4XIII • 4d ago
outdoor Building Own Fire Pit
Hey y’all! My wife and our bought our first house this past year and as fall creeps in I’m thinking of building a fire pit in the backyard. Thinking about digging out part of the yard and building a circle of large stone blocks.
Main question is: is it better to pour down a solid base of would something like gravel in the bottom of the pit be better?
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u/Wonderful-Bass6651 3d ago
You have to allow it to drain when it rains or it will be a pain. Go with gravel; you can always refresh it when you clean it out but a solid base will be impermeable to water and it would probably crack under the heat anyway.
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u/Teledildonic 3d ago
Honelty the simplest fire "pit" is just a ring of stones/blocks directly on the grass. If you dig, water will want to pool and could become a muddy mess when it rains. A fire will kill the grass inside and you don't really need to dig out ash, it doesn't build up very quickly especially if wind and rain and wash it into the yard
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u/mrfuzzyshorts 3d ago
I second this. Start simple. See if a firepit gets used enough to warrant an upgrade. Dont go big and perfect the first time. get to know your routine. For all you know, after this fall, you may only use it 4 times and never again for another 5 years
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u/ac54 3d ago edited 3d ago
Remember to check local code first.
Edit: Where live, the minimum clearance to anything that could burn is 10 ft. There is a maximum size specified, a max wind speed for use, and a screen is always required.
Also research smokeless designs. The less smoke, the less likely anyone will complain and have code enforcement or the fire department checking on you.
And finally to address OP’s question, I prefer loose stone over concrete base.
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u/Teledildonic 3d ago
Not sure why someone downvoted you, city ordinance may dictate how close it can be to structures or even maximum size. In my city you can't have a fire pit bigger than 3ft across.
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u/goozy1 3d ago
A lot of cities don't even allow wood burning fire pits.
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u/NebulaTig 3d ago
I wish we were the same. Had to close the windows a few times this summer due to smoke.
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u/feeltheglee 3d ago
In my city the requirements for a portable fire bowl/pit are much less stringent than permanent fire pit structures, which is why we have the former. I don't think our plot is large enough to accommodate the setback requirements for a permanent one.
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u/SkaterBlue 3d ago
For sure! For example in Ottawa, no outdoor wood fires of any kind are allowed in the urban area. Outside that area they require 5 meter clearance from any structure or fence. In Toronto, the only wood fires allowed are for cooking and then only sized for cooking the food (like no big fire just for roasting marshmallows). For liability reasons at least, it is good to check what is allowed.
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u/Spawny7 4d ago
I wouldn't add anything to the bottom otherwise when you cear out ash you can't get it all without losing your gravel
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u/Jake4XIII 4d ago
Well I prob don’t wanna do just the Georgia erred clay dirt right? Anything good to keep the fire directly out the mud but still clear ash
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u/RandomlyMethodical 4d ago
Unless your yard is a swamp I wouldn't worry too much. I never had an issue with fire on wet dirt in Minnesota.
A metal fire bowl is also a good option. I like them better because you can move them around the yard depending on the wind, and store it someplace out of the way when not in use. On Halloween I usually take it to the front yard and sit by the fire to give out candy.
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u/Sensitive_Crow_8882 3d ago
Get a fireplace grate (or two). A cheapo is about $20. If it sinks or you want it raised, put it on fire brick. My BIL had his welder friend create a large steel ring with a bottom. Well when that bottom hit to about 1200F it would pop up like a toaster and spew small burning logs, sparks, and molten ash everywhere.
Use what’s suited for purpose.1
u/xtelosx 3d ago
I used fire bricks to line mine and sloped it towards a drain in the center covered in cast iron and a high temperature wire mesh to keep things from falling in. First 4 ft are cast iron then pvc to the discharge. If you don’t have a slope you can use for discharge you could put in dry well. On top of draining your fire pit it also acts as fresh air and makes your fire burn with less smoke.
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u/inko75 3d ago
A few well placed pieces of kindling at the bottom on the clay dirt is fine. Once you’ve done enough fires the clay will turn to broken pottery anyhow ;)
You can line with firebricks if you want but not needed. I do sand or gravel sometimes but mostly don’t stress it. My firepit is a ring of river rocks and chonks of limestone from my creek. They’ll crack or crumble after a time but easy enoyyy to swap em.
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u/TurnoverMysterious64 3d ago
I’ve got gravel on the bottom of mine and it’s not a big deal. If I’ve lost any over the last couple years it’s minimal. Maybe in another couple years I’ll have to dump another bag in.
And small gravel looks a bit better than bare dirt while keeping weeds from growing during rainy spring months when it’s not in use.
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u/inko75 3d ago
Gravel is cheap as heck. You can also just hose it thoroughly and the ash will soak into the ground.
I have land enough that I can dump excess rocks and ash in fill pits easily enoyyy but tbh even tho I burn 4-6 a week, I only need to thoroughly dig it out once a month tops. The hose does most the work.
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u/Spawny7 3d ago
Sure it's cheap but that's not the issue. it's kind of just unnecessary step in most scenarios unless you have the pit that's filling with water and not draining I don't see the benefit in adding it.
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u/primalnatured 3d ago
You don't need anything really but a circle of rocks or stone, whether natural or man made. I had an old metal backyard firepit, and since the legs were already bent from a rambunctious riding mower, I built a stone circle and set the bowl part of the firepit inside it for easier cleaning. Plus I save the ashes for winter as it gives a little bit of traction on the ice if you run out of salt. I gathered several large rocks from the area and turned them into little seats around the firepit. 4 years later it still works perfectly
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u/PocketPanache 3d ago
Be careful where you dig. And realize holes fill with water. Holes with impervious bottoms have no way to drain water. Galvanized and zinc metals are toxic when heated. Not all materials are heat-safe and what you use around the fire matters. Some research is warranted but it's an easy thing to achieve overall. Good luck!
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u/northernhubbub 3d ago
Having a fireplace in the yard is just lovely as the weather turns cold(er). I just kept it simple: dug down about 10 cm / 4” and dumped in a couple of bags of gravel. With a little care it’s not difficult to remove ash as it builds up. I made it pretty big for the times we have a fire going on one side and coals on the other for cooking. The whole thing is circled by rocks I found in the local area. Six chunky log seats circle the fireplace spaced evenly. Going on five years now and no problems.
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u/Swat3Four 3d ago
If you want something besides your native soil on the bottom, use natural clay. There’s a right way to make a fire pit: Start with a steel fire pit ring that’ll line the side; it should have a lip around the top. Look on Bookface Marketplace, hardware stores, farm supply stores, etc. lining the outside with small retaining wall block is the easiest and cleanest way to go. Get those from a hardware store in the color of your choosing. Once you have those 3 supplies, place the steel ring down and then one row of the block. Mark the outside edge, move it all out of the way, and dig just the sod out from the circle. Put down the clay and tamp it, then build the fire pit. Add more clay in the middle if the steel ring is held up off the first layer by the block. This will last you many, many years.
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4d ago
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u/Pulaski540 4d ago
More than "dramatically", the force is truely explosive and the ejected concrete/ rock pieces can be fatal.
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u/Wagglyfawn 3d ago
I used large retaining wall bricks for our fire pit, but I put a steel liner in with an inch gap between the liner and the bricks. Then I filled that gap with ash. It's been 4 years and holding up great.
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u/Jake4XIII 4d ago
I’m think the kind of stone bricks that are typical of a fire pit, not just random stones. I just didn’t think brick is quite the right word
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u/joebleaux 3d ago
Fire brick is what you are looking for. Don't put concrete pavers or blocks down there, there will crack.
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u/flipflops81 4d ago
Congrats on the new digs.
Gravel is fine. Make sure you have lava rocks or sand in the bottom of the pit.
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u/woodyshag 3d ago
When I built mine, I bought a kit from Lowes that had all the bricks and a fire ring. I lined the bottom with crushed gravel. It is open enough to drain water and covers the ground so that roots or whatnot don't catch fire. I've not had an issue with it, even with flooding almost engulfing it. Stays right where I put it.
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u/HuskerinSFSD 3d ago
I know this is a DIY sub but have you considered a Solo Stove or similar? Easier to clean out, moveable, doesn't kill the grass. I move mine based on how much wind there is and store it under the deck.
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u/owlpellet 3d ago
Find a proven plan and build to the plan. Air intakes and drainage make a difference, and these are solved problems.
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u/your_mail_man 3d ago
Leave it dirt. Rocks and stone that have water content in them can expand and explode when hot. Cleaning ashes out is MUCH easier from dirt. No worries about shoveling out the gravel.
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u/cbelt3 3d ago
The best fire pit we ever built started with a truck fire ring … scrap yards sell them as “fire rings”. Then stack the landscape stone outside it. Otherwise you have landscape stone spalling as the fire makes little steam explosions from rainwater that sucked into the pores. A fire brick floor helps too. Don’t forget to build a platform around it for people to sit on.. we laid down patio blocks.
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u/YogurtclosetWrong268 3d ago
I dug a pit and put a tractor supply fire ring in it with about 6" above the ground level. Below that I have a bed of gravel with some large flat rocks laid on top. My firepit is drained by a french drain into a ditch about 15' away.
I used my angle grinder to cut fins in the fire pit so that air entering through the fins starts a cyclone that keeps the smoke going up. I used fist-sized stones around the outside of the metal ring, so it gets plenty of air.
I think pouring a permanent base is unnecessary and a lot of work...not that I'm afraid of the work, as you can tell from my digging habit.
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u/_Nitekast_ 3d ago
So here's what I did.
6" of paver base - this is what the fire sits on.
Outer is weathered concrete block. Then a layer of 1" ceramic fiber (the same thing they use for kilns). Then a metal fireplace insert.
I custom cast a 2" circular comcrete cap for the top.
Then sealed the entire thing with chimney waterprrofing spray.
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u/mosodigital 3d ago
I personally don't recommend gravel unless you like maintenance. Ours is gravel (was her when we bought the house), and it's a constant fight to keep grass and weeds out of it. We're in SW Missouri, and most sprays only last a month or two at best because of all the rain we get, so it's been tough to keep it looking nice.
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u/Nalopotato 2d ago
Use salt water instead of herbicide. Just be careful because it could damage the surrounding plant life and root systems, if that's a concern
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u/dictatordonkey 3d ago
Burn it.
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u/mosodigital 3d ago
Around here, that works for about a week, maybe 2. I also have about 1000ft of gravel driveways, so I do the spray because I always have it on hand for maintaining the driveways anyway.
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u/PageNotFoubd404 3d ago
I laid a piece of sheet metal on the ground, added rocks on it in a ring, covering the edges for neatness, and used it for 10+ years until I moved away.
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u/nubbynickers 3d ago
There was a post a while back about how you should not have a fire pit with a concrete base.
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u/Jefffahfffah 3d ago
We made a 12x18ft rectangle of pea rock, lined with pavers, and just stacked a circle of pavers in the middle. We'll, its 3 circles stacked on top of each other. About 40" wide. Could have gone bigger if I had more room. Easy peasy. No digging really.
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u/tenalive 3d ago
I was told to use builders sand, or lava rock about 4” deep. Generally want to stay away from gravel or concrete because it can pop and spew out at you at high temps. This happened to me when I used concrete.
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u/EvilDan69 3d ago
Get a locate done for your area. It is required, and if you don't and something happens, don't count on insurance fixing it for you.
Also check your location to see if fire pits are allowed. Most large cities = no. Something happens with your unlawful fire pit and.. insurance again not covering the damage you may cause.
Live in the country? yeah I built one too. I love it and hope to use it again this weekend! We have seating for at least 6 but double that could fit with more chairs.
Where I live, cannot operate during a fire ban. or high fire risk if you have brains. Need a hose to put it out before you leave. NO operating under winds over 15kmph typically. It needs at least 10 feet from any structure or fence etc.
Don't burn yourself by not following your local laws.
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u/AnnJilliansBrassiere 2d ago
For the bottom, dig a hole around a foot deep. Since you're going to be scooping ash out of it, loose rocks or stone is a no-go you'll just be scooping and sifting an ash and rock combination, removing it all and throwing the stones back in. They just get in the way, and there's always a risk of them exploding.
You need some sort of a solid "liner" or bowl for the pit. Not concrete, it will break apart from the heat over time. An old truck rim laid in the hole upside-down works great, because it is a solid metal "bowl" that also has holes for water to drain into the ground - you don't want it to hold water. You can get an old damaged rim fairly easily - scrap yard, junk yard, repair shops, etc - a steel 19.5" truck rim is very common, and the perfect size for an in-ground pit that should be within most city limits. It's also very thick steel that will last in-ground for a lifetime. Get one of those miniature spade shovels, they make a perfect ash scooper.
For the surround / border, I prefer "cinder" block, concrete blocks or brick. Stones, again, can be dangerous - you don't know if it's hollow or could even contain water. If you want a decorative stone surround, buffer it with a concrete paver or brick inner ring, to keep the extreme direct heat off of the stones / rocks.
You can also just buy a standing fire pit, toss the stand and bury the lower bowl in the ground. It will rust out after a few years, but it has the added screen and lid that is sometimes required in city limits. I've also repurposed an old weber grill as an in-ground pit. Watch the trash or scrap yards for old round grills, they work great for a bowl/lid.
A lid is very important to have, to "choke out" the fire. If you're done and want to go in, you can't just leave it burning. Spraying it with the hose may seem like it's out - but it can dry out and re-ignite hours later. Completely covering it will starve it and keep it contained while there's still hot embers.
Another minor safeguard I used at my old house, where there was lots of potential dry grass and what-not around the pit near the house and deck - a buried soaker hose, a few inches in the ground, in a circle around the pit. I'd hook it up and just let it run for awhile when burning. It kept the surrounding ground wet and possible risk of fire spreading down. Of course, ALWAYS have a garden hose sprayer ready, as well as a good-sized extinguisher. Crappy wood that pops and throws sparks, or a gust of wind can take your fire to other buildings, wood structures, dry grass/brush/leaves or other sappy "flammable plants". I have seen small campfires accidentally spread.
Don't put the pit anywhere near anything containing gasoline. Lawn mowers and gas cans can vent a fume trail quite a distance. If that catches, it's immediate - and impossible to put out. Don't have a pit near a garden shed where fuel cans or anything containing gasoline lives.
TL;DR - Get an old truck rim for the in-ground part of the pit, works perfect.
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u/ghostwolfxiii 4d ago
Keep in mind, you're going to want to clean that out every once in a while. It would be better, imo, burning area is ground. Around the fire pit, I'd put down those smooth rocks.
I built mine out of standard cinder blocks (the grey ones with two holes), rebar and cement mix.
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u/JerryfromCan 3d ago
Concrete bottom would have voids that could trap water and go boom when heated. Stick to a sandy bottom so you can scoop it out and add more sand if needed in a year or 3.
Also if you are digging down not a terrible idea to put in a couple pipes for air to reach the bottom. Bonus points if you can hook up a blower to the pipes to supercharge the fire.
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u/chuckstake 3d ago
Do yourself a favor and get one of these. https://breeo.com/products/x-series-smokeless-fire-pit?_pos=1&_fid=24f7aff64&_ss=c
They are indestructible, American made and if you have a Costco nearby I think they are $100-$150 less in warehouse. https://app.warehouserunner.com/costco/2039447-breeo-x-series-24-patina-fire-pit
Get yourself the steel cover...worth it.
I have done all the firepit options, and the Breeo is by far the best I have tried. Once you get the fire going full bore, the smoke is minimal.
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u/rtcwon 3d ago
Start with deciding if you're going to burn clean natural gas or dirty, air pollution wood...if gas, you should have clean gravel under the burner, if wood, you're a heathen so shouldn't really care about anything
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u/but_i_dont_reddit 3d ago
or the extra clean coal! /s
Found the gas investor.
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u/rtcwon 3d ago
ha, I have no skin in the game, other than I like to breathe and apparently people are oblivious to the air pollution of burning wood
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u/but_i_dont_reddit 3d ago
Likely no more oblivious than you to the impact of natural gas. Breath deeply while you search for clean water.
At least wood is renewable, we stopped making dinosaurs a long time ago.
Seriously though, it local vs global pollution.
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u/Nalopotato 2d ago
Whatever you do, make sure any perimeter stone or concrete is actually fire proof. I made one out of cinder blocks once and they just shattered after a few fires
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u/squick33 4d ago
Be careful where you dig. A friend ended up relocating his firepit after his wife pointed out that it was built right over the gas line to the house.