For some homeowners, depending on where you are in the country, a fire pit may very well be the absolute last thing you’re thinking about. For others, with more temperate weather and cooler evenings, a fire pit may be a great way to enjoy the cool summer evenings. In either case, almost any homeowner can find a good season of the year where a backyard fire pit is perfect.
Planning and building during the summer will ensure you don’t miss out on your window to enjoy your fire pit in the fall and winter. Here are some of our DIY fire pit ideas for your backyard.
Stone Fire Ring
If you have the space and want to keep your backyard fire pit simple, then the traditional stone fire ring is right up your alley. For a stone fire pit or stone overlay style, you only need some space, some rocks or stones, and a little creativity.
It’s probably best to start your fire pit on the smaller size and expand as you see fit over the years. Lay some foundational stones and rocks to establish the shape of your fire pit then fill gaps with smaller stones and stack accordingly to create your desired wall height. Use common sense as your fire pit wall doesn’t need to be too high, just high enough to prevent fire from spreading or leaping over your wall.
In-Ground Fire Pit
A favorite of many homeowners is an in-ground fire pit. For this application, you’ll need to dig a hole in your yard and line the walls of the hole either with stones or preferably with semi-round concrete retainer blocks. In-ground fire pits are great for establishing an outdoor gathering area but aren’t great for all families.
Be aware that if you have small children, an in-ground fire pit will need to be secured and protected. Also while not completely permanent, an in-ground fire pit requires a commitment to its location and can’t be easily moved like an above-ground variation. Make sure that you secure the fire pit from children and pets and be certain of your location before you start digging!
Above Ground Fire Pit
Above-ground fire pits are the easiest way to create your backyard fire pit. We already mentioned a stone ring fire pit above, but there are other methods of creating an above-ground to suit your backyard and your family.
For one, you can use retaining blocks to build an above-ground fire pit to the size of your liking. Stack these blocks in a round shape, to your desired height, and accent with stone or flat rocks on top for beverages, food, or the like.
Another above-ground option is to use a steel or metal fire ring to create your fire pit. Old wheels, steel barrels, and galvanized fire rings from your local feed store are great options for this rendition of a fire pit. They can be used as stand-alone fire pits or accented with stones, retaining blocks, or whatever your heart desires.
Manufactured Fire Pits
Finally, you may want to consider a purpose-built manufactured fire pit. While not exactly DIY, purpose-built fire pits eliminate a great deal of work while still allowing you to be creative in how you display the fire pit and what you do with it.
Fire pit bowls and smokeless fire pits are perfect for the semi-DIY homeowner, but with some mechanical know-how and some work, you can create your own smokeless fire pit or similar alternative yourself with scrap materials.
