Your brick fire pit is a focal point in your outdoor space, but if you’re looking to build something that looks more permanent and impressive than the usual DIY project. A single layer of bricks is all you need to achieve a classic look that will last for years to come. The project is easy and straightforward, but the outcome will add durability, beauty and value to your home.
A simple fire pit is the perfect addition to your backyard. Adding a fire pit to your outdoor living space is so easy and nutrient, that it gives you a reason to never have to go inside! Aesthetically pleasing, this simple brick fire pit will enhance any space
The beauty of a simple fire pit is that it doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. All it takes is a little imagination and creativity. It can be as simple or as difficult as you want it to be, depending on your skill level and available time. The basics of building a brick fire pit include: clearing the area for building, choosing the right site for your fire pit, building a foundation for the pit, laying down your bricks and mortar, finishing touches and protection against weathering.
Brick is a great material to use for fire pits. It lasts forever, looks beautiful, and gives you the flexibility to design it in any shape you’d like. You can do a lot of things with brick when building an outdoor fire pit project. Here are some steps to follow that will take you from start to finish and have you enjoying your new outdoor space in no time.
Measure and mark out the area for your fire pit.
- Measure and mark out the area for your fire pit.
- Mark the corners of your fire pit with stakes. This gives you a visual reference point to work from while digging out the hole, which will save time and effort in the long run.
- Use a tape measure and a level to get an accurate measurement of your fire pit’s dimensions, then transfer this information to stakes using chalk or paint. Make sure that all measurements are level!
- To create borders around your brick work area, dig out soil until there is about 2 feet (about 6 inches deeper than your bricks) of space between them and ground level. You’ll want plenty of room so that people don’t trip over uneven ground while enjoying their fireside chats.
Excavate the area for your fire pit to a depth of 8 inches.
- Excavate the area for your fire pit to a depth of 8 inches.
- Remove the excavated soil and dispose of it in a suitable manner.
- Fill the excavated area with sand, then pack it down firmly.
Remove all stones from the excavated area and add a layer of sand.
This step is simple, but you need to be careful when removing the stones. The last thing you want to do is injure yourself or damage your back by lifting heavy rocks. If you have a sieve handy, use it to remove all the stones from the excavated area and add a layer of sand overtop them.
- Use a sieve or other tool (such as a rake) to remove stones from the excavated area. Add sand until each stone has at least an inch of space around it. Add layers of sand until all areas are filled with at least 1/2″ of material
Lay a single circle of bricks around the excavated area to hold in place the walls of your fire pit.
This step will seem a bit tedious, but it’s necessary to keep your fire pit sturdy and safe. Begin by laying a single layer of bricks around the perimeter of your excavated area. Lay these bricks in a circular pattern so that they form a circle with no gaps or holes in it. You can use any brick style you like here, but we recommend using common brick because they are easy to find and inexpensive. If you prefer another style, however, go right ahead! Once you’ve laid out your first row of bricks around the edge of your pit, continue adding more rows until all sides are completely enclosed by brick walls at least one inch thick (the thicker these walls are, the better).
Use a level to make sure that they are straight and even with each other.
You can use a level to ensure that the bricks are straight and even with each other. A level is a tool used to check that a surface is horizontal.
To use your level, place it across the top of two bricks, with one end resting on one brick and the other end resting on another brick. If both ends of your level are touching their respective bricks at exactly the same height you know that they are perfectly straight.
You can also use your level to check that the bricks are level with ground, which will make building them easier as well as ensure that they look great once built.
Begin laying your second circle of bricks, staggering the joints by half a brick on each row.
- Make sure the bricks are straight
- Make sure the bricks are level
- Make sure the bricks are even with each other
- Make sure the bricks are the same size, and that they don’t vary more than an eighth of an inch from one another. Ideally, you should use a trowel for this step to ensure that your joints stay consistent.
- The next thing to do is make certain that all of your bricks have a consistent color between them. If you’re using something like concrete, then this can be particularly tricky because it will be difficult to match up with surrounding materials like soil or grass. There’s no easy solution here just try your best.
Continue adding layers until you have reached your desired height for your fire pit.
Continue adding layers until you have reached your desired height for your fire pit. The height of the fire pit is often determined by the size of bricks used, but should be at least 18 inches high and no more than 48 inches high. For example, if you are using 4-inch-thick bricks (which are commonly used in commercial fire pits), then your base layer would be 14 inches tall and each subsequent layer would be 4 inches taller than the previous one.
If you want to add a decorative touch to your brick structure, now is the time! Add some stone or stucco on top to create a sleek look that will complement any outdoor space.
Finish with a capstone or lip around the top of your fire pit at least four inches wide made from stone, brick or concrete.
Finish with a capstone or lip around the top of your fire pit at least four inches wide made from stone, brick or concrete. The lip should be at least four inches high and deep enough to contain any material that may fall into it. If you live in an area where there is a lot of rain and snow, then you may want to add drainage holes as well.
Replace displaced soil and pack it down around the outside edge of your brick fire pit to prevent erosion.
Now that you have a finished brick fire pit, it is time to replace the displaced soil and pack it down around the outside edge of your brick fire pit. This will help prevent erosion and keep your fire pit looking nice.
If you are using bricks, make sure they are not too heavy for the soil or concrete you used in making your fire pit. If any part of the stone breaks off during use, dig out any loose pieces with a trowel and fill in with more gravel or sand so that no sharp corners remain as these can cause injury.
When choosing stones for this project remember to select ones which are not too large for their intended purpose – if they’re too big then they may crack easily when laid on top of other rocks or packed into place by hand (note: smaller doesn’t mean less stable!).
Brick is an easy material to use when building an outdoor fire pit structure.
Brick is a durable material, which makes it easy to use when building an outdoor fire pit structure. Brick also has a variety of colors available, and can be used in many different ways. Fire pits are a good choice for brick because they require durability and easy maintenance. Outdoors structures such as patios or decks are also good choices for brick because they require both durability and easy maintenance.
Final words
Now that you’ve built your fire pit, it’s time to get the party started! There is nothing better than sitting around a roaring fire with your friends and family on a chilly night. A good way to ensure that your guests are comfortable is to build benches or chairs around the perimeter of your fire pit. This will make sure everyone has a place to sit without having to worry about getting uncomfortably warm from being too close to the heat source.
