
How To Build a Fire Pit Patio With Pavers: Location, Materials and Building Instructions
A must-do every summer for many people is certainly gathering around a fire pit to comfortably end lukewarm evenings around the campfire with friends, acquaintances and family. Whether it’s with wine, chilled drinks, marshmallows to roast, or sausages, a fire pit in your own backyard is often the focal point of any garden party or summer invitation. By the way, it is absolutely not difficult to build such a beneficial and romantic place in his garden – if you have enough space, everyone can set up his dream fire pit himself.
Nevertheless, there are also certain things to consider here. What you need to know about the topic of fire pit made of pavers, you can read below.
Fire pit from pavers stones pros & cons
A fire pit in your own garden or on your property offers the possibility to enjoy long campfires of a safe kind far away from flammable objects. At the same time, you can grill here, but also snacks such as stick bread can be prepared very easily. Depending on the fire pit, you get a cozy place to sit, which is popular in most seasons. Whether with your own children, friends or by yourself – the fire pit stands in any case for fun and relaxation because you switch off completely from smartphones, PC and Co. By the way, the fire pit made of pavers is also stable and robust, so that it can withstand any weather conditions and also many years of use.
However, a disadvantage of such a fire pit is that you need some space in the garden or on the property. Also, the fire pit must be built in a safe place where no plants can burn. Of course, but also the construction itself is for many people a clear disadvantage because this is associated with a high time expenditure and can be exhausting.
Material and tools
Before you start building a fire pit according to your wishes, you need, of course, the material, but also helpful utensils for assembly. After all, the result should be able to stand out, not become crooked or even unsafe, and be durable for a long time. Besides the stones that you choose, you need especially helpful tools like this:
- rubber mallet
- a spirit level
- string for alignment and stakes or sticks suitable for this purpose
- trowel
- a wheelbarrow for transport
- possibly a spade
- cement, gravel and possibly sand (cement and mortar must be fire-resistant!)
When choosing pavers, you should make sure to buy the lightest possible versions. After all, when building a fire pit, because of mortar and sand, but also the stones add up to a few kilograms, which could sink into the ground over time if it is too soft. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention either to stabilizing elements, such as a foundation in the case of heavy stones or to a light construction that does not press into the ground. Otherwise, in fact, over time, the structure may become crooked and elements break.
Alternatives to the pavers
Cobblestones are a very good choice for the DIY fire pit. But why, in fact? This is because they are very fireproof because they themselves were first shaped and then fired. So a bonfire can not harm them, which is why they are the ideal boundary. However, the fire pit should, after all, fit the look of their own house or garden shed, but also visual appeal to the user. Therefore, it is important to choose refractory stones that suit your own taste well. Alternatives to pavers are, for example, quarry stones, which you put together like a kind of puzzle to the desired shape, but also clinker bricks and many other refractory options.
The optimal location
If there is one thing that should be considered very carefully, it is certainly the future location of the planned fire pit. If it is poorly or insecurely placed, it can become a danger for the user, but also for residents in the immediate vicinity. This is due to the fact that due to wind, for example, sparks could jump to dry bushes and trees and ignite them. But also wooden houses, gazebos and garden sheds would quickly catch fire in the immediate vicinity.
So the fire pit should be given a location that is far away from the house (in case a fire really does start). Also, there should be no wooden houses nearby. Bushes and trees should also be at least four feet away. Potted plants and other ornamental plants should not be placed in close proximity.
Building a fire pit – planning and options
Once the location is chosen and both materials and tools are ready, you can start planning the design. Here you have almost infinite possibilities and can give free rein to his imagination, which concerns the design. Not only the stones can be selected variably, but also the shapes and equipment of the fire pits.
Tip: When building a fire pit, it is always worthwhile to include the construction of a suitable seating area made of stone or wood. This not only gives you a well-rounded look that is inviting to guests. It also avoids always having to carry garden chairs back and forth or even buy new models just for the fire pit. In addition, seating – for example, a bench made of stone and wood – can also be made accommodations for stacked firewood.
Ideas for the design of the future fire pit can be found on the Internet numerous. The important thing is to achieve a uniform look that matches the garden and the house, which will be enjoyed for years to come – because once the fire pit is built, it can not be torn down so quickly because of the cement and mortar.
Start with the fire pit – step by step
When it comes to building the fire pit, the first thing to do is to have all the tools and materials close by so that you don’t have to constantly carry or change them back and forth. It is advisable to wear gloves and steel-toed shoes to protect against injuries and abrasions because of the heavy stones. Then proceed as follows:
1. Measuring and staking
First, the fire pit plus equipment must be measured at the intended location and staked out as imagined so that you can use it as a guide during construction. Stakes can be used to stretch pieces of string for this purpose to also indicate the planned height of the fire pit and everything around it. This way you can also see if there is a slope and if you have to help out a bit in some places to get everything level.
2. Dig hole
Even for above-ground fire pits, it is recommended to dig a shallow hole to remove grass and the like. Half a spade height, that is, up to 6 in is quite enough for this.
3. Subsoil for fire pit and seating areas
Now – if needed – the subsoil for the seating areas and fire pit is laid out. This can be done with the help of pavers or similar and should be done after gravel has been piled up and leveled. Since the stones are to provide the base for sitting and relaxing, there should be no sharp edges sticking out because of the possible risk of injury. A hammer for stones helps to straighten the stone surfaces and lay them all together into a flat surface.
4. Border for fire pit
The area around the fire pit is now covered with pavers, which are best fixed with a little mixed cement. Whether the shape is round or square, always make sure that the stones are stable and level, which can be checked with the help of a spirit level. Now the whole thing must dry sufficiently – done!
As you can see, it is not so difficult to build your own fire pit. The difficulty lies mainly in hauling the necessary material and laying out the stones so that they lie flat. Of course, if you are particularly keen on stability and durability, you can set a foundation of cement beforehand, but this means much more work and also causes you to wait at least a day longer until the fire pit is ready, as drying time must be calculated.