How to Build a Free Fire Pit
One of my goals this summer was to build a fire pit in my backyard. I looked at lots of DIY options on Pinterest and thought that I would make one from concrete paver stones.
I started planning out my project, thinking I would need 36 concrete pavers from the home improvement store, sand to make a base and construction adhesive to stick the whole thing together.
I was going to dig into the ground and make a completely level base for the pavers. Then, I realized I was completely overthinking this whole thing.
I remembered that there were several piles of broken concrete over on a nearby field on our farm. If I could haul it back to our yard then I could just arrange them into a circle to make the fire pit.
My father in law helped me load the concrete chunks into the tractor and then he drove them over to our backyard.
I simply arranged them in a circle and stacked them three rows high, placing the larger chunks on the bottom. I filled in some of the gaps with smaller pieces and other rocks from my garden.
The pit is pretty sturdy and I like the look of the broken concrete. Best of all I saved myself about $100 worth of supplies!
If you want to make something similar, you can usually find lots of free broken concrete on Craigslist from construction projects etc.You will need a truck to load and haul it to your property. Be prepared for your muscles to get a good workout from lifting the heavy pieces.
I used some smaller rocks from our garden around the perimeter and dug away some of the grass. My daughter “helped” me place the smaller rocks on top.
My little helper inspecting our work
I’m pretty paranoid about accidentally setting the whole yard on fire. There is lots of moisture in the grass so I’m sure we will be fine but it’s never a bad idea to use extra caution. Keep a hose nearby and always make sure the fire is completely extinguished before you leave the area. We will be testing out the pit this weekend for a hot dog and S’mores roast.
Have you built a fire pit before? I’d like to hear your ideas. Let me know about it in the comments! For more outdoor inspiration check out some of my other posts here.
