Many homes have a fireplace or propane stove inside, but there’s nothing like enjoying a fire under the stars in your backyard. On a cold summer night, you can feast on hot dogs by your fire pit, while in the cooler months, you can sit by the fire in your comfiest chair with nothing to beat about.
Of course, a fire pit can be as simple as a hole in the ground and random stones placed around it. But in just a few hours, you can easily create a significantly more attractive (and safer) fire pit that will get you and your guests fired.
Materials & tools
- Shovel
- Measuring tape
- Marking paint
- Wood stake
- Concrete retaining wall blocks
- Sand
- Level
- Rubber mallet
- Masonry adhesive
- Crushed stone
The process to build a Patio block fire pit
Step 1
First of all, make sure your local government does not charge a fine for building a fire pit. Contact the planning offices in your area to see if any restrictions apply. Only proceed once you have obtained the necessary approvals or once you are satisfied that no one is needed.
Step 2
Choose a location for your fire ring that is on relatively flat ground and well placed away from flammable structures. Also, remember to clear dangerously hanging tree branches. And before considering the place you have chosen as the final one, record the movement of the wind at certain times of the day; The consequence of avoiding is that the smoke goes out through the windows or doors into your home.
Step 3
Decide how wide you want your fire pit to be (recommended sizes are between 36 and 44 inches) and use marking paint to outline the dimensions. Do this by placing a stake in the center of the area where you want the fire pit to go. Build a rope about half the planned diameter. Then walk around the stakes in a circle, expand the thread, and draw the perimeter.
Step 4
Now it’s time to dig into the ground inside the circle you drew. Go about 8 inches deep. If the patio has a slope, it may be necessary to dig deep at one end to ensure the installation is level.
Step 5
Pour a 2-inch thick layer of sand over the area you’ve excavated. Pound the sand so that it is compact and level.
Step 6
Lay a row of concrete retaining wall blocks along the edge of the pit. If a slight adjustment is required to level the blocks, tap them with a rubber mallet to establish the correct height.
Step 7
Place the second ring of staggered blocks on top of the initial one, bonding 2 layers with masonry adhesive. To promote air circulation around the fire, leave small intermittent spaces between the blocks.
Step 8
Add about 4 inches of crushed stone into the cavity, then place the last 2 rings of your blocks. Allow the adhesive to dry for approximately 2 days before turning on the fire. After that, burn it!
Additional Tips
Your fire pit will be fine with retaining wall blocks, but once you’ve finished building the pit, you may want to install a steel fire ring. Doing so will extend the life of your blocks by preventing them from drying out prematurely.
Also keep in mind that while it may be tempting to include river rocks, it’s safer to avoid them, as they risk exploding when heated. It’s a very hard process…you do not have to worry, just call us or visit our contact page and we will build a Patio block fire pit for you.
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