DIY Fire Pit

This DIY fire pit consists of 36 flagstone retaining wall blocks stacked in a circle and is the perfect backyard project that can be used for years to come.

Ever since Lauren and I bought our house, we knew we'd eventually want a fire pit. First we had to make the back yard nice enough to actually have something like a fire pit which took a few months. Then of course we had to have some type of seats so we made a couple of Adirondack chairs.

What really ignited us in building a fire pit going was after visiting my dad's cabin about a month ago. We had a great time sitting around the fire pit with our friends Sophie and Rob. While we aren't in the middle of the woods, it's still pretty cool to go in the backyard on a cool evening and just sit and chat with no TV around. Having some s'mores doesn't hurt either.

I was searching for a while for fire pit ideas and some were pretty crazy, but I just wanted a simple fire pit that was easy to put together. The actual DIY fire pit we made came from directions from Lowe's. You can easily change it up, but with went with the traditional circle. Now we just need to make a few more Adirondack chairs to sit around it and enjoy with our friends and family!

DIY Fire Pit Shopping List

• 36 flagstone retaining wall blocks (4" x 11")
• 2 (0.5 cu ft) bags paver base sand or gravel
• 1 steel fire ring
• 5 (0.5 cu ft) bags lava rock

Tools

• Shovel
• Hand tamper
• Level

How to Build a Fire Pit

Step 1:
Lay out 12 stones to form circle. You want them as snug as possible, but enough space where steel ring can fit.

Step 2:
Mark around the stones by digging slightly underneath with shovel.

Step 3:
Removes stones and begin removing sod and dirt to a depth of 2 inches.

Step 4:
Compact the soil with a hand tamper.

Step 5:
Make sure the area is level. Move soil around if not.

Step 6:
Add approximately 2 inches of paver base or gravel.

Step 7:
Wet the paver base and then tamp down with the hand tamper.

Step 8:
Add rest of paver base. Wet it as well and tamp down with hand tamper. Make sure area is level.

Step 9:
Lay the first row of stones, making sure the blocks are touching. Set the ring in the middle to confirm it fits.

Step 10:
Lay the second row of stones, staggering the joints with the first layer.

Step 11:
Lay the third row of stones, aligning the joints with the first layer.

Step 12:
Insert the metal ring.

Step 13:
Add the gravel rock and fill it up to the metal ring. (The rocks and ring are to protect the stones from the heat so they don't crack)

Step 14:
Start a fire and enjoy!

Other Project Ideas:

• DIY Wine Cabinet
• Kitchen Island
• X Side Table