How to Build a Fire Pit

By: Harry Sawyers, This Old House magazine

Shopping List

Supplies You Will Need

1. CAST-CONCRETE WALL STONES

2. CAPSTONES

3. STEEL CAMPFIRE RING
The one we used here is from MARKSTAAR

4. 3/4-INCH DRAINAGE GRAVEL

5. PATIO BASE
(stone dust)

6. MASONRY ADHESIVE

7. READY-MIX MORTAR
(if needed) to cement a natural-stone cap onto the wall. A 40-pound bag is enough.

8. CONCRETE BONDING ADDITIVE
(aka "milk") to make the mortar more flexible.

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Tools List
Tools You Will Need
- Brick hammer
- Cold chisel
- Spade
- Hoe
- Steel rake
- Tamper
- 2-foot level
- 4-foot level
- Mallet
- Caulk gun
- Trowel
- Grinder
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Product Gallery
Product selections for this project
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Introduction
Overview
Steps:
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9

2 full days
About $500

Difficulty: Hard Lots of heavy lifting and deep digging, and some stone chiseling

Outdoor fires are so hot right now. Seriously. Mankind has called the hearth home for the centuries, it's true, but these days people are going ultra-retro and getting their heat from stone-walled pits set into the earth. And, why not? On cool summer nights, you can melt marshmallows and nibble s'mores while you lounge in an Adirondack chair, feet propped up on the rock ledge. So if you really want to light up right, do it in style. Take a few days to build your very own ring of fire.

Find this step-by-step process beyond your expertise? Consider purchasing one of these manufactured fire pits.