With the sunny weather heating up, and more people wanting to venture back outside, many are looking for fun ways to enjoy the great outdoors in their great backyard. A clear image of summer almost always includes a fire with roasted marshmallows or drinks with friends. Making a firepit doesn’t have to be complicated or dangerous, for you to enjoy it.
Here some different ways you can approach making one, and some tips on how to keep safe.
Brick Lined
Bricks, cinder blocks, and other commercial materials can be a great way to make your fire pit match your home. Not only are these premade materials easily available, but you can also make it as custom as you’d like. These can help give your firepit a polished and beautiful look. Although this isn’t for everyone, it’s a great place to start since the materials get made to build.
Natural Stone
Another option to consider for building materials is a natural stone from your area. You can buy granite remnants in bulk, or look into local quarries that may offer discounts for projects like this. The local stone will blend in well since it’s part of the natural landscape, but make sure the rock you pick up is heat safe. Limestone, sandstone, pumice, and river rocks should get avoided at all costs because of their porous nature. If water gets trapped in them, and then they’re heated, these rocks might explode and cause injuries to those around the fire.
Walls and Half-Walls
How windy is it where you live? Is your backyard small? These simple things can cause massive problems when a fire pit is involved. A half-wall on the side towards your home, or a full wall surrounding the entire hole, can keep the flames trapped. These walls can also be used for other purposes, like supporting a roasting spit or used for aesthetic decoration.
In-Ground and Above-Ground
This option has more to do with how wet the area you live in than anything. If you currently live somewhere with a high water table and a lot of moisture in your dirt, you’ll want to keep your fire pit above ground. If your soil is drier, and you want to avoid the fire spreading in dry plant life around it, an in-ground fire pit with a wall around it would be the best pick. Consider the kind of ground and plant life in your yard, or plan ahead while looking at Philadelphia houses for sale.
Safety
We’ve all seen videos about the anti-fire bear Smoky talking about how lousy forest fires are. When building a fire pit, keep your surroundings in mind. Don’t build within twenty feet of your home, where there are tree branches above, or somewhere surrounded by a bunch of dry brush. Dry fire can quickly get out of hand and could cost many homes or lives if not prevented.
Ensure that the fuel you choose, the wood you burn, and the stones you build with all keep the fire in mind. This fire pit is going to be an epicentre of summer fun, so make sure you can enjoy it.
