Having a backyard fire pit gives you a great place to sit around with family and friends on summer nights or cooler nights. Although fire pits are sold in many stores, building your own gives you more control over how it looks. You can design your own fire pit, construct it yourself, and set it up to use right away. If you’re not sure of what kind of fire pit to build, the following ideas can get you started.
In-Ground
Fire pits can be built above ground, but they don’t have to be. You can build an in-ground fire pit for a cozier feel in your yard. Just make sure you check for underground utilities before you dig. Your in-ground fire pit should be placed in a spot that’s far enough away from your home to reduce the risk of home fires. For in-ground fire pits, you’ll also need to make sure the area you choose won’t have pooling water when it rains. You can make your in-ground fire pit as big or as small as you need it to be. You can also choose different shapes for the design, such as circular, oval or rectangular.
Custom Shape
When you’re making a DIY fire pit, you can get as creative as you want in terms of its appearance. Your fire pit can have a traditional square or circular shape, or you can choose a more unusual shape, such as triangular or octagonal, to make your fire pit stand out more. Having a custom-shaped fire pit also gives you the option to put it in an area of your yard that has an odd layout.
Ring Shape
A ring-shaped fire pit allows you and family or friends to comfortably sit on all sides for warmth. Building this shape of fire pit can create a cozy feel compared to fire pits with angular shapes. You can also get creative with a circular fire pit design, such as building a back on it on one side or stacking bricks in an unusual pattern.
Fire Pit Grill
You can combine your DIY fire pit with a grill if you want to save space in your yard. Instead of having a separate grilling station and fire pit, having both in one frees up room while also providing a convenient spot to grill hot dogs or other foods while sitting around the fire. A fire pit grill is an ideal choice if you typically enjoy spending a lot of time grilling.
About the Author
Ryan Mandigo
Ryan Mandigo is an award-winning professional broker associate with Omni Real Estate. Originally a native of New Hampshire, his love of real estate began 30+ years ago while swinging a hammer on a framing crew. He has always had a strong passion for helping people, whether it be assisting a couple in purchasing their first home, finding a home that fits a growing family's needs, or downsizing for those with an empty nest. He strives to build strong personal and professional relationships with being a true believer in the power of positive thinking and always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is also a co-founder and board member of the Swing Fore the Kids organization. A local charity that is 100% nonprofit and their sole purpose is to help needy children and young adults within Horry County communities. He finds great satisfaction and pleasure in seeing how working hard for a great cause and raising funds can help others in need. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Waccamaw Youth Center in Conway, where their mission is to provide at-risk youth "A Place To Call Home"
When he is not working, he enjoys music, working around the home, spending time with family and friends, turning wrenches on vintage vehicles, getting some wind therapy on the Harley or chilling with their dogs.
Some quotes he lives by - "Do what you like and like what you do" - "You have to be odd to be number one" - "Dreams don't work unless you do" And one of his favorites. "Positive and enthusiastic thinking in all you do"
