How to Build a Brick Fire Pit
There is something mystical about cooking with a fire pit or even just looking at one. Building a safe and durable fire pit will bring years of enjoyment. The required tools and materials are few; all you will really need is a weekend of good weather, and maybe the help of a next door neighbor to carry a few bricks and some mortar.
Required Materials
- bricks
- mortar
- sand
- water
- quick-set cement
- rebar
- grill bits
- 2’x4” stock
- nails
Required Tools
- trowel
- hammer
- shovel
- wheel barrow
- level
- stakes
- string
Instructions
- Site Selection - When placing your fire pit, look for a place that is well drained. It should have a slight slope away from the fire pit. Take a look around and cut away any low, hanging limbs. Do not place your fire pit too closely to the base of a tree. Tree roots will grow out and away from trees, not down. The tree may be damaged if the pit is placed too close to it.
- Digging the Pad - Dig into the earth at least 2-4 inches, for your fire pit pad. Try to avoid damaging any tree roots that you may encounter. Make the base of the pit pad as level as possible. Dig the pit pad to the desired size.
- Forming and Placing the Pit Pad - Cut the 2’x4” stock to form a foundation wall. Nail or screw the stocks at the ends. If you drill and screw the boards, they will disassemble easier. Mix and pour quick-set concrete into the pit pad foundation. Follow the instructions on the bag for the particular cement. Before the cement sets, push the rebar into the cement in a latus configuration. This will help to prevent frost heaving. Place a key mark into the cement, and reassemble your fire pit wall layout.
- Mixing Mortar - Some mortar mixes may vary just a bit. The most accepted mixing ratio is 3:1 mortar to sand. The ultimate consistency that you would need is that of soft-serve ice-cream. If the mortar is too thick, it will be difficult to work with. If it is too soft, it will simply run away.
- Building the Pit Wall - To begin the fire pit wall, lay a decent amount of mortar on the key mark you placed in the cement. Do the same to the underside of the bricks and ends. Place the bricks firmly onto the mortar, wiggling and tapping it down. Complete the first course. Lay string at the height of the first course. Place the first brick at the second course and reposition the string for a level line. Be sure that no two bricks sit right on top of one another. A 1/2 brick overlap is needed for strength.
- Adding Grill Bits - If you are planning on a grill for the fire pit, lay four metal pieces within the pit walls. Ideally, they will need to be about 4-5 courses away from the fire.
- Moving the String and Adding a Cap - Continue to move the string line so that an even and level course is maintained. Use a leveler just to be sure. If you choose to, add a top cap to the fire pit with some other stone.