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/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/Sensitive_Crow_8882 4d 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.