Backyard/fire pit layout ideas

[MartyMcFly3]

Hey all. I'm looking to do some landscaping around my patio and build a fire pit as well. I'm trying to figure out what will look best landscaping wise, and figure the good folks here on ATOT will know what's best. Here's 3 ideas I've thought of so far. What looks better to you? I'm open to other suggestions as well. I apologize for the crudeness of the drawings.

Option 1:

Fire pit enclosed in patio with landscaping bricks

Option 2:

Fire pit separate from patio. Landscaping bricks around patio, unknown yet how I'm doing the square border around fire pit.

Option 3:

Fire pit separate from patio. No border around fire pit.

Any thoughts/input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[sdifox]

Option 4 big logs around option 3 firepit

 

[purbeast0]

when we redid our patio last year, we were contemplating putting in a built in firepit as well. we had a perfect circular section to put it.

when explaining my needs to the guy who was actually doing the project (this was more than a $25k project so it wasn't el cheapo or anything) he actually said he does not recommend getting one built into the ground. his reasoning was basically because it's permanent. and it is right in the center of an area and it can't be removed. he recommended just getting a portable one that we can bring in/out if we ever want to use it, and then use the space for whatever we want to other times.

again, this was coming from the guy who was going to make money off of us if we did have one installed.

and now that we didn't do it, i'm really happy about that. this was last september we did our big renovation, and since then, we've had exactly 0 fires in our portable firepit lol. so i'm glad we don't have one just sitting there in the middle of an area. granted, if we DID have one, we probably would have used it, but we do have a portable one and haven't broken it out once since then.

but ... if you really want one, then go for it. not trying to sway you one way or the other, just giving you an opinion from someone who really wanted a built in one and ended up not doing it.

that said, i personally think i like the #2 the best with the border around it so that you have some hard grounded sitting area around it. the flow of the first pic looks a little odd to me.

 

[Genx87]

I have used portable fire pits and would rather have one built in with seating around it. My goal is to build one using Pavers this summer.

As for the OP. I would prefer your first option.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Unfortunately between an energetic dog and a curious 3 year old (who has a 1 month old sister), I'm hesitant to do a portable one because I know it'll be inadvertently knocked over many times. We also get some nasty wind at times, so I'm thinking in ground is a better option for us.

As for #2, debating how I want to border the fire pit and also what to put down inside the border for a base.

 

[madoka]

Before you get any further, call you local fire department and confirm that a fire pit is legal in your area. Conversely and as a back up, you can look up the local codes on the matter before someone else does and forces you to remove it.

 

[Genx87]

Before you get any further, call you local fire department and confirm that a fire pit is legal in your area. Conversely and as a back up, you can look up the local codes on the matter before someone else does and forces you to remove it.

This is good advice. In our city the ordinance says fire pits are legal but have to be 25 feet from a structure. They also have some other burning limitations by hours and leaves. Basically dont want people burning into the wee hours of the night nor smoking out the neighborhood.

 

[waffleironhead]

Something like this?

https://www.menards.com/main/p-2747262-c-12918.htm

 

[purbeast0]

Something like this?

https://www.menards.com/main/p-2747262-c-12918.htm

while that looks cool, it would be uncomfortable as shit. who sits straight up like that? chairs lean back a little bit. and it's against a stone. with a sharp edge to boot. would not be comfortable or practical at all imo.

 

[vi edit]

Firepits are one of those things that always seem like fun...but just really end up a pain in the ass once you light them up. You stink like smoke. If you have windows open your house gets smokey. You have to worry about ash and embers going places they shouldn't.


If you want a fire, camp. If you want heat, get one of those propane heater things that you put on a patio. I have the same aversion to fireplaces as well. They look awesome but are expensive, take up a wall, an energy suck (heat/cold coming in through them) and are one more thing to have to maintain and worry about.

 

[madoka]

Firepits are one of those things that always seem like fun...but just really end up a pain in the ass once you light them up. You stink like smoke. If you have windows open your house gets smokey. You have to worry about ash and embers going places they shouldn't.

I worked on a case where a lady tripped and fell into a fire pit. The man who pulled her out testified that he grabbed her by the arm, but the skin had melted and sloughed off her and he could not get a grip. He ended up pulling her out by her burning hair. Seeing detailed pics of the aftermath turned me off to fire pits completely.

 

[mizzou]

I'm also one of those who loves the idea of a firepit, but never takes advantage of one. It's hard to get my SO outside late at night anyway just because of the damn mosquitos. The heat you get from it is negligible.

If done well, it can be a great place to talk/socialize with people. Fire rings essentially draw people together for food, warmth, or just to sit and enjoy the ambiance. Every well done back yard should have some place for people to gather and socialize.

I like to have benches mixed in with gardens. For heat, I don't do anything right now...but I will probably use a moveable propane heater at some point.

CORRECTION: I Do have a moveable wood burning firepit. I've used it sparingly, but it is very nice.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Before you get any further, call you local fire department and confirm that a fire pit is legal in your area. Conversely and as a back up, you can look up the local codes on the matter before someone else does and forces you to remove it.

Very good advice. I had already contacted the proper authorities and got the all clear. Appreciate the input so far and while I may not comment on all of your posts I'm paying attention to what is being said.

 

[tracerbullet]

We use our fire pit quite a bit, but we only moved in ~ a year ago and it's still a novelty I guess. We smell like smoke afterwards, sure, but it's usually weekend use and we aren't well dressed at that point anyhow. Sourcing firewood has been the bigger issue, but luckily enough friends have bigger lots that they've got tree bits they are willing to give away.

Ours is off by itself in the backyard, it was a DIY kit that I've seen at various landscape companies for a couple hundred bucks. 4' diameter, 3 rows of stone high. They are notched to assemble into each other and stay put. Put in by the previous owner, but we are currently looking to paver around it, the bricks are cheap but the labor is insane. I suppose it makes sense (dig grass, dump class 5 and sand, compact, etc. ) but it still just feels high. We'll DIY that at some point I believe, we won't get it perfect but for its location we don't care, but we have bigger projects to worry about first.

Maybe start with option 3, a solo pit, and see if you use it. If not you haven't put too much time / money into it and can backfill it with sod. If you do, then go ahead and put more into it to make it like #1 or 2.

(Also, IMO, portable pits put in the yard will kill the grass underneath them in as little as 1 good length session burning wood, making them a little less appealing as they might originally sound).

 

[gbeirn]

I put one in and we use it all the time. After determining where it could go due to local ordinances there was really only one spot for it.

The kids love it to roast marshmallows, we cook corn on it, burgers, hotdogs, make hot apple cider in the fall, etc.

I pick up pallets people throw away and cut them up to use as fire wood, plus any time I see trees cut down I pick some up. Never paid for wood yet. I bought the blocks super cheap at a garage sale and made mine only as big as I had enough blocks for. It's about three feet across. I dispose of everything in it, sticks and braches from the yard, etc.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

We will definitely use it. We have been wanting one ever since we moved into our house 6 years ago. I'm thinking option 2 is the route we are going.

 

[mizzou]

I put one in and we use it all the time. After determining where it could go due to local ordinances there was really only one spot for it.

The kids love it to roast marshmallows, we cook corn on it, burgers, hotdogs, make hot apple cider in the fall, etc.

I pick up pallets people throw away and cut them up to use as fire wood, plus any time I see trees cut down I pick some up. Never paid for wood yet. I bought the blocks super cheap at a garage sale and made mine only as big as I had enough blocks for. It's about three feet across. I dispose of everything in it, sticks and braches from the yard, etc.

Firepit looks perfect!

Although, I don't think I can give you props for burning greenwood and trash


Tip for novices...do NOT use any type of river stone. They will 'splode when hot.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I want to make a fire pit. Do I need to use firebrick or will landscape pavers alone suffice? I worry about them cracking over time.

The design is going to be something about 18" tall. I want to make it out of pavers. Do I need to line it with firebrick or will the pavers survive the heating/cooling cycles over time?

If I use firebrick, I want to avoid mortar. I kinda want this thing to just sit and stay in place without starting to mess around with footers and such.

Thoughts?

Thanks!

This post through post #22 have been merged from a thread in OT.
admin allisolm

 

[lxskllr]

Pavers will /probably/ work if you don't get too wild with the fires. Personally, I like natural stone. If you do that, stay away from quartz.

 

[Pulsar]

1 galvanized ring.
A yard or two of sand or nicely colored gravel.
Pavers.

Easy, done in a couple hours.

Instead of the outer galvanized ring, put your pavers.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

I keep reading that firebrick is pretty much needed. If I don't use them, the thing will not last long.

I might have to concede and turn this into a bigger project. DOH.

If anyone can recommend a larger grate for grilling over a fire pit, please tell me about it. I figure I need something large r to span the gap which is probably 2' or so.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

1 galvanized ring.
A yard or two of sand or nicely colored gravel.
Pavers.

Easy, done in a couple hours.

Instead of the outer galvanized ring, put your pavers.

A lot of people do this and line the steel with pavers. The steel is a conductor but it does keep the temp down on the pavers I would imagine.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

A lot of people do this and line the steel with pavers. The steel is a conductor but it does keep the temp down on the pavers I would imagine.

This is what I'm planning on doing essentially. The galvanized ring is like $40 at Menards.

 

[mizzou]

You could just buy a campfire ring that has an integrated cooking grate.


Just be conscious of what type of wood you burn when you cook though.

 

[Pulsar]

Any grating works, and aluminum is easier to handle because it's much much lighter.... how big do you want it?

http://www.zoro.com/value-brand-bar...gclid=CNPkhJez0cUCFRQcaQod61kAlw&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hmmm... careful with that one. It seems to be confused as to whether it's aluminum or galvanized steel.

It's pricey, but you can select any size you want. Aluminum cuts easily with a grinder or bimetal bandsaw blade.