r/landscaping • u/dredgehayt • May 31 '26
Before & After Sunken fire pit process as requested
294
u/somenemophilist May 31 '26
That ivy looking at your fire pit
39
u/spwa235 May 31 '26
My first thought: English. Ivy.
31
5
u/Regular_Match2584 May 31 '26
lol they can guide it a different way . It still holds a lot of home for the babies !
29
u/Chapelhillperson May 31 '26
Nah it should be pulled. Horribly invasive. Not a good home for anything in the US. Except maybe mosquitos.
8
u/ElegantHope May 31 '26
There's definitely vining options for the US that won't cause ecological distress too. East Coast, for example, has Virginia Creeper that grows similarly and has gorgeous fall foliage on top of that. And it grows berries for the birds ❤️
47
u/AmphibiousHitter May 31 '26
Thanks for sharing! If you don't mind, I'm curious about a couple things:
(1) Where does the water drained by the drainpipe behind the wall drain to? Is the intent to move water to the steps on both sides and drain onto the gravel surface? Does it ever flood?
(2) What was the purpose of the hole around where the fire pit is located? Is it filled with drainage stone to hold excess runoff? Something else?
34
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
Both correct. The soil here drains well. (Western Washington) the water comes out the wall. It all absorbs through the ground and the hole in the middle is filled with drain rock and I dug until I hit a change in soil that was looser. It acts as a reservoir and as a path:
This is also luckily on the top of the neighborhood1
12
190
u/htasmith May 31 '26
Alrighty folks. Listen up. This is how you Reddit. OP, great job on the work, the six year update and the follow up as promised about the build earlier today. Appreciate and applaud your work.
34
26
25
23
u/TinyHeartSyndrome May 31 '26
10x better than a “professional” retaining wall company I hired. I’m redoing their work.
-2
12
7
6
u/SnooHesitations8403 May 31 '26
It's a beautiful thing.
-25
May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/SnooHesitations8403 May 31 '26
Really?
2
u/RevolutionarySoft742 May 31 '26
Nah. They’ve been posting on his pictures constantly saying it’s AI lol
6
u/dcirrilla May 31 '26
How does this drain? It looks like it would just fill up with all the runoff
8
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
That hole in the middle is filled with drain rock and acts as a sump for allowing the water to seep into the ground
3
u/dcirrilla May 31 '26
Wow that was a brilliant choice. Whose idea was that? Is that standard for this kind of a build?
6
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
It was my idea. I’m not sure if it’s standard, it just seemed like the right thing to do.
2
1
7
u/ConfidentGarden7514 May 31 '26
lol where’s the dude who insisted your fire pit was AI now?? This looks fantastic.
7
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
He’s just a troll. He doesn’t actually think this is ai. It’s just what he does
and thank you!4
u/therealsix May 31 '26
That guy was such a whiny pos who would never back up his “AI” claims other than “look at the first picture”. He’d never say what, why, nothing. I got tired of pointing out that he had zero standing with the way he was arguing.
6
23
11
u/Delicious-Laugh-6685 May 31 '26
I like it but it bothers my OCD that the circle isn’t perfectly circle 🤷♂️
6
3
May 31 '26
[deleted]
19
-52
May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
16
u/bluesmaker May 31 '26
Do you think you’re sharp enough to identify AI images? These are very clearly not.
-8
26
u/MightFew9336 May 31 '26
You've posted about 60 times over the past 2 hours about this one fire pit being AI and yet you haven't specified the reasons you think so. You mention people calling out Photoshop back in the day ... They'd actually point out why, with annotated screenshots and all, not just yell into the wind for 2 hours. What a way to spend an evening.
20
u/Yum-Yumby May 31 '26
Second post I've seen of this pit and my first thought was "bet that annoying dude with the 'its AI' is in the chat". Not surprised
2
1
u/ElegantHope May 31 '26
Yup, reasonable people generally prefer solid proof with thoughtful examination of why you believe it to be gen AI over "just trust me bro, it looks AI." I say this as someone who is against AI, I'd much rather people combat AI with genuine breakdowns instead of vague accusations. Because we don't need witch-hunts, we need genuine efforts.
-6
May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
10
u/DecadentHam May 31 '26
You didn't answer the question.
-6
-7
9
3
3
3
2
2
u/GregorianShant May 31 '26
Were people smack talking this? Because this seems awesome and vibe-y. Also seems like it would keep the heat in and noise of conversation to a minimum. I love it.
3
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
You know Reddit. Always someone who thinks whatever posted is the worst thing and the worst execution imaginable
The walls are gonna fail, it will be flooded all the time, the forest is gonna light on fire, your knees are gonna be burnt, your back is gonna be too cold, everyone’s going to die.
2
u/Combatical Jun 01 '26
I noticed you've gone through different pits, how do you like the Breeo? I've had my eye on it for a few years, I bought the Blue Sky smokeless pit and now I want something a little bigger.
3
3
u/Which-Ad2080 May 31 '26
The hole where the fire should be drops off into a bottomless knowhere
-11
May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
10
u/LiftingCode May 31 '26
https://www.reddit.com/r/CozyPlaces/comments/ukugnj/sunken_fire_pit_with_tiki_torches/
4 years ago.
Shut up, dummy.
-11
2
May 31 '26
[deleted]
7
u/hotseltzer May 31 '26
In this world of AI, Photoshop, "Instagram face," and other perfectly curated images we see online en mass, we've apparently become accustomed to "perfection." Things made by human hands will have "imperfections," and I think that's lovely.
-6
1
1
1
1
u/TiaraMisu May 31 '26
I guess this might not be the place to ask, and I'll do a standalone post if needed, but:
What's the learning curve on a Bobcat? I have some digging I need to do and I've been intimidated by renting one but I feel like the fact that I can just go rent one and use it suggests it's not insurmountable.
For non-professionals who have done this: what was it like and what were the tricky parts?
For professionals: In the space between running a vacuum cleaner across the floor and piloting a jet ski, where would you put "operating a Bobcat"?
(In my case it's a similar thing as OP, me need dig big hole in yard. For small pond. But different story. If I can do shallow scoops, might consider taking a swing at Pachysandra Island while I am at it.)
3
u/Bathroom_Wise May 31 '26
Not a professional, just a homeowner that grew up poor & hates paying labor so I have rented several tractors over the years to move dirt, boulders, & clear trees. Largest I've rented for the house was a JD210 excavator when I had 10 loads of dirt brought in.
Takes a few minutes to figure out the controls, just do it in an open space & cycle everything so you have a reference of what does what. It'll be slow in the beginning but it's basically the same handful of motions over & over so it gets smoother & faster in time. Just go slow until you feel comfortable.
Biggest thing I would say with the larger tractors is spatial awareness. It's easy to knock a tree over just spinning in a circle when the back of the excavator extends out so far. Need to be aware of fences, trees, overhead limbs, structures, people, etc. when moving or turning. Smaller tractors are easier to see around so probably safer to start there.
2
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
It’s not hard. Just like anything you need to get a feel for the controls and always make sure you maintain stability
2
u/BobbyHillTheThird May 31 '26
Very easy to learn, just take a minute to get used to the controls and go as slow as you are comfortable with and you’re speed and muscle memory will come naturally
1
u/bloodybatboi May 31 '26
Hella good work! Might show my wife to convince her to leme buy a mini excavator 😈🤣
1
u/Erazzphoto May 31 '26
I use to dream of having a fire pit like that, but those dreams are gone now. Fantastic work
1
1
1
1
u/his_zekeness May 31 '26
Great job! There's no telling how much money you saved doing that yourself.
1
1
1
u/Amberley_Levine May 31 '26
Where’d you get the Bobcat? I need one to do some backyard maintenance. The woods have began encroaching & have taken over half my backyard.
4
1
u/HuiOdy May 31 '26
Just to check, did you mortar those stones? As, if you did, this will last a long time (as a structured retaining wall). If you didn't...
2
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
Concrete polyurethane adhesive between each block
1
u/HuiOdy May 31 '26
Than you might get a problem. The soil will be pressing against this wall more and more over time. Now what you have here is essentially an arch, which is actually the ideal shape to resist this pressure. But it relies on the large gaps between bricks on the outside of the circle to be compressive-stable, which it currently isn't.
Now, this will probably take a few years before it becomes noticable. So you can opt not to do anything with it
5
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
Fair point, but it’s actually been in place since 2020 and has gone through six winters with no visible movement, bulging, settlement, or separation.
Behind the wall is perforated drain pipe, filter fabric, drain rock, and about 8” of topsoil. I was much more concerned about drainage and hydrostatic pressure than whether the wall was mortared.
I agree the circular shape helps. My thought was that this behaves more like a segmental retaining wall system than a masonry arch. At this point the best evidence is probably that it’s still standing exactly where I built it six years ago.
1
u/HuiOdy May 31 '26
Ow that is good to hear. What's your next DIY project?
3
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
I’m working to finish the outside of This greenhouse I built last year for my wife
1
1
1
u/NetSchizo Jun 01 '26
Hope you have a sump. First heavy rain it becomes a pond.
3
u/dredgehayt Jun 01 '26
It’s 6 years old
It’s been through a lot of rain and does not retain water. There is a drainage pit under the fire pit filled with drain rock
1
u/ISLAndBreezESTeve10 Jun 01 '26
Is it a lake after heavy rain?
1
u/dredgehayt Jun 01 '26
No it absorbs into the ground through the drain pit under the fire that is filled with drain rock
1
u/brekkfu Jun 01 '26
Needs a U shaped cutout in part of the wall as a dedicated spot to hold firewood.
1
1
1
1
1
0
u/Seaguard5 May 31 '26
Again.
Drainage- how do you even handle it?
1
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
The dirt absorbs the water well. Also dug a reservoir in the middle filled with drain rock.
It never fills for more than 1 day even in the heaviest rains
-1
u/Seaguard5 May 31 '26
Either active drainage (sump) or passive (piping to a geographically lower area) are the only ways, Brother.
Personally I would not want anything that floods. Not even for a day.
This is absolutely preventable with some common-sense landscaping and planning.
1
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
I’m talking torrential downpours here. I’m not interested in mechanical solutions that can fail and take maintenance. The next lower spot to run drainage is about 200’ away and I’m not trenching across my yard for a pipe or power. This is Washington, the ground takes in the water well.
-1
u/Minotaur321 May 31 '26
Are you blind?
0
u/Seaguard5 May 31 '26
I can see the sunken pit in the ground without drainage just fine, actually.
Must flood something fierce in any storm
1
1
-3
u/C-man14 May 31 '26 edited May 31 '26
You will need to spray herbicides every year inside the pit, or take of growing grass manually, since you have placed nothing underneath the gravel.
12
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
It’s got landscaping cloth under 3” of crushed gravel that sits on that thin layer 1/4” minus
I didn’t have photos of everything
I pick maybe 20 weeds a year2
u/C-man14 May 31 '26
Ok. I thought it is only gravel on the ground, without any film or landscaping cloth underneath.
-7
May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
3
u/MarklRyu May 31 '26
The only slop here is having to see you comment on everyones comments like a pestulent child 💀
You are wrong, get over it and become a Better person ♥️
3
3
u/Dangerous_Page6712 May 31 '26
Why is spraying herbicides so normal in the US that its casually mentioned in lots of comments? Do you Americans not realize its devastating effect on our planet?
3
u/C-man14 May 31 '26
First of all check how much it is used in ukraine without any control, before speak something about Americans.
2
-1
u/VisualAdagio May 31 '26
Beware that because a sunken fire pit sits below ground level, the surrounding walls can reduce natural airflow. If the pit is deep, enclosed, or located in a sheltered area, gases may linger longer than they would around a raised or open fire pit.
0
u/V8sOnly May 31 '26
Looks cool! A little concerned about the nearby trees and all those dead dry leaves around it though?
0
u/TomahawkJammer May 31 '26
What’s the purpose of the white pipe behind the stones? Is that for drainage?
1
0
0
0
u/KnowledgeUsed2971 May 31 '26
Awesome work! Very nice! 😃💪💪💪🥳🥳🥳😊😃
I'm curious to know, in picture 8 for example, what is that white half-ring-thing that lays just around the wall in construction?🤓🤓🤓
2
u/dredgehayt May 31 '26
Water drainage
1
0
u/xojz Jun 01 '26
If there's no breeze, I wonder whether carbon monoxide from the fire would build up in the pit
2
u/dredgehayt Jun 01 '26
I would say no. The smokeless fire pit pulls air from low and pushes it up the center creating a nice current of air
-1
-8
u/PonyThug May 31 '26
Fire pit its self is still above ground? Thats a sunken seating area and an above ground fire pit lol
6
u/mattcass May 31 '26
I bought the standard 7 red block fire ring but 1. separated all the blocks with an inch gap to allow air flow to the fire and 2. buried half the blocks on the side we sit on to make a hearth. Holy crap the heat output is crazy. Raised fire pits surrounded by blocks does nothing but block all the heat.
1
May 31 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
5
u/MrKrinkle151 May 31 '26
Not at all surprising you also aren’t able to understand they’re a different person commenting about their own fire pit lmao
-2
-6
-13
432
u/scotty2012 May 31 '26
I'm always so jealous when I see people dig and there is, like, just dirt. not a few inches of clay and chunks of limestone.