[MUSIC PLAYING]
What's the perfect accessory for a delightful evening outdoors?
Whether weather's chilly or warm,
a fire pit is a welcome spot in any outdoor space.
Add some outdoor furniture, and you have a cozy backyard space
for entertaining and more.
This video will walk you through all the steps
to build your own in-ground fire pit,
and all the tools and materials you'll need
will be listed at the end.
Fire pits can be built from a kit or from scratch.
Either way, it's a simple project that
makes a dramatic difference.
The location you choose should be level,
with a good view and at least 15 feet away
from anything combustible, like shrubs, trees, or buildings.
It's also a good idea to invest in a fire extinguisher
and have enough water hose to reach the fire pit.
This fire pit would include a 12-foot circle
patio for the entire area to be landscaped.
Drive a stake in the center point,
and loosely tie a string to it.
Hold the paint can at the radius of your circle,
and spray as you walk around the center point.
If grass is covering the area, you
can use a sod cutter to transplant it.
They can be rented from the Home Depot.
Otherwise, just grab a shovel, and start digging.
Dig the circle 4 inches deep around the outer perimeter
and 2 to 3 inches deep at the inner edge.
The slope would allow rainwater to run off.
This fire pit would be 31 inches across,
so we'll mark a 45-inch circle to account for the bricks
around the center point for the fire pit.
Hold the paint can at the radius of your circle,
and spray as you walk around the center point.
Then dig the center 4 inches deeper
than the large circle, and compact the dirt
around the outer perimeter.
This is where the blocks to create the wall of the fire pit
will sit.
Add a fabric barrier to prevent weeds
from growing through your patio.
Add about an inch of crushed gravel to this area,
and tamp it into the soil to create a strong base.
Good drainage is an important part of your in-ground fire
pit.
Remember, we're building a fire pit, not a pool.
A fire pit that collects water can be a breeding ground
for mosquitoes or mold.
If you live in an area with a great deal of precipitation
or soil that doesn't drain well, add additional drainage
by digging a hole at the center of the pit that's
12 to 18 inches deep and 12 to 18 inches in diameter,
and fill it with coarse gravel.
Lay the first course of blocks along the perimeter of the pit.
The tops of the blocks should be level with the ground
of the outer circle.
Once you're happy with the placement,
lay the next course of blocks with a gap offset in a brick
pattern.
Leave space for at least four cross-directional vents
measuring two to three inches wide.
The space between the blocks will
act as an air intake for the fire
to burn properly with less smoke.
Finish laying the remaining three to four courses of blocks
depending on the height you prefer.
Then pour coarse gravel into the pit
until it reaches the level of paver substrate.
Now that we have an in-ground fire pit,
we need a place for our patio furniture.
Fill the outer circle with 4 inches of gravel
and about 1 inch of paver sand.
Compact the area with a tamper or plate compactor.
Renting one from the Home Depot would make the process faster.
The pavers should slope away from the fire pit
about 1 inch for every 8 feet.
You can use a string and line level
to maintain the proper depth and slope of the pavers.
Start in the center and fit the pavers together snugly
as you go.
Spread a light layer of paver sand over the entire area,
and brush it into the gaps between the pavers with a push
broom.
Tamp the area to help set the paver sand and add more as
needed.
For a more decorative finish, add a row
of capstones as a top layer.
When the fire is cool, regularly clean out
any leftover ash and unburned wood.
Also, clean out any ash or debris
that clogs the ventilation gaps between the blocks.
Now it's time to kick back and enjoy your new fire pit,
but let's keep yourself and your property safe.
Here's some fire safety tips.
Here are the tools and materials needed.
Good luck, and thanks for shopping at the Home Depot.