Tips on Building a Fire Pit

Having a campfire in the backyard is something most families will truly enjoy especially for kids. To have your own fire pit is a very convenient way to relax, enjoy the heat and hang out with friends. A fire pit can be built without any expensive materials you can easily do it yourself.

6. Place three rows of concrete blocks around the perimeter of your pit or if you desire a permanent one, build a wall around using bricks.When building a fire pit, the need to constantly remind ourselves about fire safety practices is very basic but the most important factor to consider. It is always necessary for us to review these practices once in a while so we won�t forget them.2. Drive a stake in the ground at the pit center. You need to attach a string (1 foot) to the stake at one end and the other end to a large nail.2. Choose a spot away from trees, overhanging branches, tree roots in the ground, dry grasses, shrubs, or anything that can easily catch fire. If you don�t have a choice but to build in dry grasses, make sure that you build the fire pit walls higher.4. Both holes must be filled with gravel until the larger hole has gravels in it about 4 inches deep.Fire Safety Practices:3. Dried leaves, wood sticks, pine needles and other flammable debris should be cleared away for at least 10 feet around the fire pit. Use a mesh screen lid to prevent flying sparks from starting fire. Another option is to pre-water the surrounding area.5. Add three inches of sand or soil that would now contain the fire.The Basics of Fire Pit BuildingYour fire pit is now ready for use. You just need to gather some woods and get the fire going!3. Make a circle for the pit with the nail and dig 1 foot deep. At the center of this large hole, make a smaller hole by digging 1 foot deeper with 6-8 inch diameter. This smaller hole is intended for drainage.1. The size of the pit is determined based on your intended use. If it is for keeping warm and creating light, a diameter of 2 feet is usually enough for one to three people and three to four feet for larger groups. If it is for cooking, it will depend on the food. The recommended 2-4 feet diameter is often sufficient for barbeques, direct grilling, and Dutch oven cooking. You might consider making two pits for indirect grilling especially whole stuff like for roasting whole pig.4. Bucket or bottle of water should always come in handy.1. Open fires are prohibited in some local codes that�s why it is necessary to check such restrictions before building a fire pit. Safety and building inspection is required in some areas.

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