Over the years, I’ve found that one of the best things to do on a summer night is to sit around a fire pit with friends. Sure, it’s fun to spend time grilling and eating outside, but there’s something about a fire that makes you feel like you’re camping out in your own backyard. It’s not just about having a place for people to gather; it’s also about entertaining guests or spending quality time with family. Not only does this give you and your loved ones something to look forward to at the end of each day, but it also lets you relax during downtime from work and other responsibilities. And while many people think of building their own fire pits as an expensive endeavor, there are plenty of ways they can be made without breaking the bank! One way I’ve done this is by using retaining wall blocks instead of concrete pavers (you can buy them at any hardware store). Retaining wall blocks are cheaper than concrete pavers because they don’t need as much labor—all you have to do is put them together like Legos. So if you want some help getting started on how exactly these two materials fit together into one cohesive unit – read on.
A retaining wall block fire pit is a great way to bring the beauty and warmth of an outdoor fireplace into your backyard. This project is a great way to use up some of your leftover concrete blocks, and it doesn’t require much more than your imagination. You can use these blocks to build a fire pit, an outdoor grill, or even a raised garden bed.
A retaining wall fire pit is a great way to create an outdoor space that you can enjoy with your friends and family. The fire pit will give you a place to roast marshmallows, cook hot dogs, and keep warm during the cold months of winter. You can build this type of fire pit yourself if you have the right tools and materials.
After you have a design plan in mind, it’s time to start building your retaining wall block fire pit.
- Once you have a design plan in mind, it’s time to start building your retaining wall block fire pit.
- Select the right location for your new fire pit and mark out an area on the ground with string or rope as a guide.
- To level the ground, use stakes and a long board (the longer the board, the easier this step will be). Place one end of the board on top of one stake and drive another stake nearby into the ground with your hammer; repeat until all stakes are secured across your designated area. Drive additional stakes along each side at intervals of about 6 inches apart to create temporary cross-members; use these cross members as markers for measuring height above grade (AG). If you’re working on sloping terrain or uneven surfaces, make sure that everything is perfectly level before proceeding further so that your retaining wall blocks will sit evenly atop each other without sliding around if bumped by accident later on during construction activities such as adding concrete countertops or pavers elsewhere throughout any given project landscape designs involving retaining walls constructed using various materials including masonry units like what we’ve used here today.
The first thing you will need to do is mark the ground area where you want the fire pit to sit.
- The first thing you will need to do is mark the ground area where you want the fire pit to sit. Use a tape measure and determine how large your fire pit should be. Then use a shovel or other digging tool to dig out the area where you want it placed. Make sure that it is perfectly level, especially if it will be used for cooking purposes.
- Once you have done this, lay out your retaining wall blocks on top of one another in an orderly fashion so that they look like a fence surrounding your newly dug out space, making sure not to stack them all together since this would make it difficult for any flames from your fire pit (or whatever else) from escaping through its sides.
Next, level off the ground and make sure that your fire pit has even footings.
After you have your fire pit on the ground, use a level to check that it’s even. A spirit level is also a great way to make sure the ground is level and will help save you some time later when you’re building your retaining wall. You can also use a laser level if you have one available.
If not, don’t worry! Simply add some topsoil and tamp it down with some force. This will give yourself an even surface to build off of and make it easier for everyone involved in building this project with their hands or shovels next week.
Here comes the part where you start putting together your retaining wall blocks.
Now that you’ve got your materials and tools assembled, it’s time to get started building.
First, use landscaping pins to secure the retaining wall blocks at the bottom of your fire pit. Make sure they’re level with each other, or else they won’t sit right when you put pavers on top of them later.
Next, use PVC piping for drainage (we love using this stuff). You can find it at any hardware store or home improvement retailer—just make sure it’s 3/4″ thick before purchasing. If you don’t have any on hand already, we’d recommend picking up a few pieces while shopping for supplies at your local Lowe’s or Home Depot store so you have enough material on hand once construction begins next week.
Now comes one of our favorite parts: putting in some gravel for drainage! This helps keep water from pooling up near where people might walk around after it rains outside (which could lead to slippery surfaces) by allowing excess moisture from rainstorms drain through holes drilled into each block instead of collecting inside like a sponge would do otherwise–and wouldn’t want anyone falling into those dark pits now would we?
Use landscaping pins to secure your retaining wall blocks.
Next, use landscaping pins to secure your retaining wall blocks.
- Place one or two pavers in the center of your fire pit for better air flow.
- Drive a landscaping pin through each block around the perimeter of your fire pit and into the ground.
When your retaining wall blocks are done, put in some gravel for drainage.
Once you’ve built your retaining wall blocks, put some gravel in the bottom of the pit for drainage. Gravel is inexpensive and easy to find at a hardware store, and it’s great for drainage because it allows the water to flow through it. The next time you’re outside grilling up some burgers or hot dogs, watch how quickly all that excess grill grease drips down into the gravel below.
Add some PVC piping and make sure that it’s level with the ground when you place it in the hole.
Add some PVC piping to your fire pit.
Make sure that the PVC pipe is level with the ground when you place it in the hole. The purpose of this step is to allow water to drain away from your fire pit so that it doesn’t get into your concrete blocks, which would weaken them.
The PVC pipe will help keep the water from flowing into your fire pit and then going through the block wall and out into the yard.
Place one or two pavers in the center of your fire pit for better air flow.
This step is important for keeping your fire pit from sinking into the ground and getting too hot. You can place one or two pavers in the center of your fire pit for better air flow, to keep it stable, and to keep it from getting too hot. To do this, simply set each paver at an angle with half of its surface facing up and half facing down (so that there are four surfaces: two sides of each paver).
A homemade fire pit is easy to build out of retaining wall blocks if you’ve spent time planning the design beforehand.
You can build a fire pit out of retaining wall blocks by planning your design before you start. There are several things to consider when planning a fire pit, like the size and shape of it, as well as where you want to place it.
For example, if you have an existing backyard patio or another area that gets plenty of sun, then determining how much shade will be available for your fire pit might be helpful in deciding what kinds of plants would thrive there. This can also help determine whether or not a particular location will work well for both gardening and entertaining outdoors!
Here are some other things that may come up during this process: Does my yard drain well? Is there enough space for guests? Do I want something permanent or temporary? How big do I need my fire pit to be? What is happening with our budget right now (and over time)?
Conclusion
This DIY fire pit made out of retaining wall blocks is a great way to add some personality to your backyard. It’s not only easy to build, it will also enhance the aesthetics of your home and give you an area where you can relax with friends and family on warm days. The best part about this project? You can complete it in one weekend. So if you’re looking for something fun to do this summer, try building a fire pit yourself using these easy steps.
