Keep It Hot With These 5 Fire Pit Building Tips
Heat Up the Night With These DIY Fire Pit Tips
Having a DIY fire pit in your backyard is a great way to bring the fun of the campfire to your backyard. Here are 5 hot building tips for your fire pit!
Spending any time outside has so many health benefits but experts especially see boosts in overall mental health.
This is the main reason that outdoor spaces have become so popular in American homes. People are creating relaxing, oasis in their own backyards. A common addition to these outdoor living spaces is a fire pit.
There's just something soothing about a crackling fire and a roasted marshmallow!
Fire pits are a great option because they can be fully customized to meet your backyard's specific needs. Follow our top five tips for a successful DIY fire pit and enjoy it all summer long.
1. Decide on a Fuel Source
One of the first decisions you need to make before you can even begin planning your future fire pit is the fuel source.
The fire can come from a few different accelerating agents; wood, propane, or natural gas are the most common choices. Each option will produce an adequate flame but there are benefits and downsides to each.
Wood is the traditional choice and the most authentic to the camping experience. It creates that real, outdoor nostalgic feeling. But it's also very unpredictable, other options can be controlled much easier.
Propane and natural gas don't have that classic campfire smell. But maybe that's a benefit since you won't have to shower after every use to get the smell out of your hair.
Each of these can easily be ignited and adjusted for height and heat. They really allow you to customize each experience.
The power source is an important decision to make first because it will affect everything else in your design.
2. Find the Right Materials
A fire pit is generally made up of a few different types of materials. Each part of the pit has different options that you can choose from to customize the look.
Your fire pit should have an outer wall layer, an inner wall layer, filler material, and a lid (which is more optional than the other parts). It's important to make sure that whatever materials you use are non-flammable and heat resistant.
Picking out the materials is one of the best parts of fire pit designs. It's where your creativity can show and you can really make it yours.
Most people choose to use some kind of paver or brick for the outside of the pit. This allows it to be sturdy while also looking nice. There are also options to customize the look using these materials such as different colors or sizes of the stone.
The filler material will likely be a type of stone. There are a few options you can choose from but you just want to make sure that it's not prone to exploding in the heat. Lava rock is a very popular choice because of its heat-resistant properties.
A DIY stone fire pit is fairly straight forward in most regards, but there are a few places that you can branch out and be creative. Choosing the materials is one of those times.
3. Consider the Dimensions
The logical next step to completing your DIY fire pit ideas is to decide on your dimensions.
There is a little bit of math involved in getting this part of the plan figured out. You'll need to decide first what shape you want the pit to be. From there you can decide how wide and tall it will work best for the space.
The one really important part to take into account is the space you'll have around the fire pit. You want the pit to be big enough for the right amount of people to sit around. But also small enough that there is adequate space to move around.
There's a little balance to find just the right size for your space.
4. Make it Safe
A fire pit in your backyard can be a source of a lot of great summertime memories. Roasting s'mores and having late-night chats with loved ones. It brings people together for special quality time.
But fire pits can also be quite dangerous if not handled correctly. It's really important to follow safety guidelines so you can enjoy the fire pit worry-free.
The best thing you can do when building a safe fire pit is to be very conscientious about where you're placing it. There should be easy access to a water source just in case the flames get out of control. It shouldn't be placed in an area with low, overhanging branches. And you should also pay attention to the regular wind in the area and how it affects the space.
When safety precautions are followed, your fire pit can be thoroughly enjoyed on a regular basis!
5. Create the Perfect Surrounding Area
Once your easy DIY fire pit is completed, you can focus on creating the rest of the enjoyable recreational area. A few other minor touches will make a big difference in elevating your outdoor living space.
Choosing an attractive ground covering for the surrounding area will not only distinguish the whole area from the rest of the yard, but it will also make it safer.
Hanging cafe string lights above the designated area has also become very popular in the last few years. This ambient lighting sets a mood for entertaining and makes the whole space feel special. It's also pretty practical to be able to fully see what you're doing.
The last, maybe most important, thing you should consider is the seating for around the fire pit. If you put all the work into creating a great fire pit, you want to be able to comfortably be able to sit around it for hours!
Start Summer Right With a DIY Fire Pit
A DIY fire pit is an easy way to add some interest and entertainment to your backyard. The fixture can be as simple or complex, big or little, and inexpensive or costly as you want it to be.
It's the perfect project to kick off summer with!
Some of the most important aspects of fire pit design (what you fill it with and what you surround it with) are best done with rocks! When you're ready to get started picking the best ones, contact us to see our selection!