Raymond WhitneyThere are many good reasons to build fire pits inside your backyard.
Apart from the many hours of chilling evenings with your loved ones it can improve the value of your property and enhance the quality of landscaping in your backyard.
If you’d like to reap the most out of your outdoor fire pit there are some factors to be considered.
This includes the position and dimensions of your fire pit the fuel kind, and the type of materials you’ll need to put on top of the fire pit.
First Things First
Spend a few minutes studying the building codes of your city. Different cities have distinct regulations for building regarding the construction of a fire pit in your backyard.
Be aware of the local regulations prior to making your own fire pit. Look up the city’s code of regulations to determine if open flames are not allowed or if some type of screen or cover would help you comply with the regulations.
The fire pit should be placed a minimum of 10 feet from branches that hang overhanging trees fences, bushes, fences, or other flammable structures on your property.
Just What Is The Bottom Of A Fire Pit?
Since our article is about the materials you can use at the bottom of the pit it is perhaps time to clarify what is at the bottom. The bottom of a pit for fire is the ground and surfaces that you utilize to ignite fuelwood or ignite a fire.
It’s possibly among the more crucial elements of lighting the fire. Without a good bottom, the fire could never be lit. In the event that it did, it will be huffing and puffing lots of smoke while you try to keep the fire burning.
The bottom of the pit should be set up as one of the first things to think about when setting up the fire pit.
Materials Suitable For Use In A Fire Pit
Certain materials were never designed to be heated and could ignite and explode when a fire becomes too hot. You can talk to a variety of people and get many different opinions about the most suitable material to use for the bottom of a pit outside.
It is possible to utilize bare soil as long it has enough moisture to create an ideal surface to burn the wood. Select a location that is simple to access.
No matter what materials you select at the end of the day it is important to ensure that the area is dry prior to lighting the fire.
Sand
It is widely regarded as one of the most flexible materials for bottoms in fire pits. It is inexpensive and simple to set up and is a great heat shield.
Sand is able to absorb heat evenly throughout the pit. Sand also shields the metal bowl from the intense heat that the fire could emit. There’s a slight disadvantage to sanding the base of your wood fire.
Ash could mix with sandy sand to form a type of slush that needs to be removed in order to clear. After removing it, you’ll require a layer of fresh sand.
Dirt
Easy to use, free, and heat-resistant dirt is an excellent alternative for the fire pit’s bottom. The only downside to using soil is that ash could be mixed with it and create an awful muck which if it becomes wet, will create a massive mess.
It’s not that difficult to clean if you have shovels to remove it so that you can begin again. If you’re using dirt, be prepared for a bit of additional maintenance. If you’re not sure about using sand for the pit’s foundation then consult the user’s manual.
Lava Rocks
Lava rocks are specifically made to be used in the fire pits. They’re not just visually great, they’re also extremely conducive to heat.
As opposed to the other rocks, they won’t need to be concerned about them breaking, cracking, or even exploding. Most obsidians are formed from magma. If they haven’t cracked, then they’re not likely to explode inside the fire pit.
They may require more maintenance unless you’ve got gas-powered fire pits.
Fire Pit Glass
Highly durable, man-made product, fire pit glass is available in a broad variety of patterns and colors.
It isn’t able to radiate heat like the lava rocks and is much more expensive than sand or dirt, however, it could create stunning light displays when the flames dance through reflecting off of a glass fire pit.
Rocks
All in all, stay clear of rock use unless it is for small stones that are about the size of one dime. This reduces the risk in terms of the damage that an explosion can cause. But it’s not enough to eliminate the danger completely, so be cautious.
Any kind of rock can be prone to explode, particularly in the case of porous rocks that are moist. As wet rocks heat the air is trapped and the water expands rapidly and can forcefully crack the rock and can cause it to explode.
The most popular rocks to stay clear of for fire pits include pumice, sandstone and limestone gravel, and river rocks. Granite slate, marble, or granite are much denser as well as less likely to hold the water or explode when subjected to temperatures, making them an ideal material for an outdoor fire pit constructed of stone.
Fire-rate bricks and lava glasses volcanic rocks and concrete that has been poured. If you often make use of your fire pit, you might want to cover the fire pit in stormy weather conditions to ensure it stays dry and safe.
Gravel
Gravel is a great material to use at the base of pits.
Types Of Fire Pits
There is a myriad of advantages to having set up a fire pit in your backyard. In addition to the time spent with friends and family, it can increase the value of your home and enhance the functionality of your garden landscaping.
If you are unable to decide between a wood-fired pit or a gas one, consider the dual-fuel fire bowl which can be used with wood and gas. They’re more expensive and require a more intricate design to construct.
Make plans for a bigger fire pit, rather than smaller ones. Planning for a larger fire pit will allow you to improve the furniture, or set up some extra chairs for visitors to come in. Be aware of the costs.
The most intricate designs, especially those built by a contractor can cost thousands. Portable fire pits usually cost between $50-$200.
Metal Fire Pit
If you own a metal pit one or two inches of sand in the bottom can help evenly disperse heat from the fire.
Don’t use a liner in an iron fire pit as the material handles the job well. If you’re concerned overheat transmission, buy an air mat or shield.
Gas Fire Pit
You can place sand into the gas fire pit however, you must be careful not to cover the gas outlets or igniters. If you’re untidy when installing sand and you’ll discover that it’s impossible to generate a significant flame.
Of, course, there are other substances more suitable for lining gas fire pits rather than sand.
Portable Or Fixed Fire Pit
After weighing up the possibilities for the fire pit Decide how portable you would like your fire pit to be. If you choose to build the permanent option the traditional in-ground fire pit is the best choice.
It is usually recommended to dig between 6 and 12 inches prior to building an in-ground fire pit. It is important to ensure that the ground is flat as you can prior to putting in the filler.
If you’re digging deeper, be sure that there is ventilation to ensure that the fire has adequate airflow to be able to continue burning.
It may be necessary to place the fire bowl placed on top of the stonework to keep your fire from getting too high. The higher walls surrounding the fire pit are particularly useful when you have pets or children and wish to shield them from fire flames.
If you want to use an outdoor fire pit that is portable, you can buy an already-constructed portable fire pit or a table.
The fire pit you choose to build can be below or above the ground. You can build it yourself or have a professional construct your pit.
Protect Your Grass
Make sure you make sure that the ground is prepared under as well around the fire pit prior to burning it. Remove dead vegetation and dead grass in the vicinity of 10 feet from the pit. The grass will be soaked under your fire pit.
When it’s damp you are able to ignite your fire. If your grass requires additional protection, you can put brick pavers on top of the lawn to act as an extra heat shield.
They’ll protect your grass from heat and prevent your grass from drying out.
Tools To Build A Fire Pit
You can engage a contractor to construct your pit or you can construct your own version. All you require is the right materials and equipment for the job.
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel
- Garden rake
- Tape measures
- Work gloves
- Hand Tamper
- Garden hose
- Level
- Fire bricks
- Retaining wall blocks
- Construction adhesive
- The material you choose is like sand to fill the pit’s bottom.
Find out if your pet requires a lining. Liners can prevent fires from underground roots and also provide the necessary structure to ensure that the fire pit is able to last for a long time.
Liners include stainless steel mild carbon steel stone, concrete, tile copper, as well as cast iron.
Fire Safety
Firepit Safety begins with selecting the ideal location to build the firepit. The best location is between 10 and 15 feet from any nearby trees or shrubs and far from any obstructions such as parking areas.
You should have water on hand in case flames are too high for your fire pit. It is recommended to keep your water inside an enclosed area like a basin or bottle.
Keep track of how the fire is moving. Make sure you completely extinguish the flame when you are it is done.
