How to Build a Fire Pit

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

17 Nov 2008 10:05 AM

Welcome the fall and the cooler weather with a cozy fire pit. Dreams of roasting marshmallows and gathering with friends and family to enjoy the show of the fall leaves isn't far away. And while this project may be in the advanced category when done because of fire safety issues, with careful planning it isn't that hard to do. If you want a tamer project, you can consider purchasing a ready-made fire pit and still enjoy the ambiance.

Here are some general things you should know about building a fire pit.

The first thing you need to do before you begin building a fire pit is to check with your town or city about the codes regarding fire pits and open burning. Some areas do not permit it at all, while most have guidelines regarding open burning.

Choose a site for your fire pit that is away from overhanging trees, shrubs, structures, dry brush and any materials that are flammable.

Line the inside of your fire pit with fire-rated bricks or other fire-rated materials.

Select an area near the fire pit on the ground. This will serve as an area for a table if desired. A few flat stones can be used as a solid surface for the table. If you want to get fancy, you can use more stones to create a decorative path that leads from the table to your home.

When building your fire pit, it is better not to use adhesives that could melt or release toxic fumes. Instead, build your fire pit using a dry stack method. You can learn more about dry stack here: Dry Stack Walls.

Keep a bucket of water or other water source nearby whenever you have a fire in your fire pit, and follow basic safety rules, such as supervising children at all times.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog and caring for little ones in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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