How to build a DIY stone firepit in your backyard

We added a DIY firepit to our backyard! 

We have been wanting to do this for a long time and finally bit the bullet and did it!  We have debated about extending our back patio either by extending the concrete, or adding pavers, or even doing just pea gravel but haven’t been able to decide exactly IF and what we want to do but we didn’t want another fall/winter season to pass without having a proper firepit.  We have already enjoyed several evenings spent roasting marshmallows around the fire, then it got 85 degrees again , but I am sure we will be spending many fall and winter evenings out here with friends and family!

So I will do a very simple/basic tutorial but the metal ring linked here that we used actually has instructions on how to build it in the box.  We were able to get the fire ring shipped right to our door in just a few days.  We originally thought we would only do 3 blocks high with 13 blocks around each level= needing 39 blocks.  But for some reason the way we laid out our stones we only needed 12 blocks in each layer around the circle and also decided to add a 4th layer so we used a total of 48 blocks.  I also searched and searched for the best deal on the metal ring and blocks and this was by far the cheapest/best one I could find and we are impressed with the quality. 

Materials we used to build the firepit:

• 1 metal fire ring
• 48 wall block stones (if only doing 3 stones high will only need 36-39 blocks) – these come in many colors but we did the Allegheny color which is nice gray with some brown tones mixed in
• 1 bag of sand
• 2 bags of lava rock
• level
• (we did not use adhesive because we may move ours to we add a patio in the future but if you want yours permanent and secured together you will need 2 tubes of this construction adhesive)

We started by figuring out where to put it- making sure it was at least 10 feet away from the house.  Then we laid the metal ring in the grass and used our edger to cut a circle in the grass/sod and also to cut several strips making it easier for us to dig up the grass.

Then we dug up the grass about 2 inches down and made the dirt level. 

We then poured a bag of sand down and used a level to make sure it was as level as possible.  We were doing this one evening and it was getting dark fast so sorry for the darker pictures.  The whole process literally took us only about an hour from start to finish – such a quick and easy project!

Once we got the first level of blocks down and adjusted to make sure they were level, the rest of the blocks just stacked on there quick and easy!  You can use construction adhesive if you want to secure the blocks together but since we may end up adding some kind of stone patio we did not want to permanently adhesive the stones together in case we move it.  The stones are heavy and don’t move easily at all.

Once all the blocks are stacked, you just lay the fire ring right on top!

It was recommended to use lava rock on the bottom – I am thinking for drainage purposes and also to help with heat regulation.  I really like the way it looks and it was only $6 a bag so definitely worth adding. 

We couldn’t wait to try it out! 

As you can see in those pictures it was only 3 stones high but we really wanted it just a bit taller so I went back to store and bought some more blocks and added them. 

It’s amazing to look back and see how far our yard has come in 4 years!  This was it when we moved in…

And here’s how it looks now!

And here’s the other view looking out from back door – what it looked like when we moved in…

The previous owners had a pool put in up a hill in our backyard – we have worked on adding stone steps and landscaping but still have a bit more work to do and the fresh pine straw we put down in spring is all gray now but still so much better than before!

I stole some of my mums and pumpkins from the front porch to take pictures back here and plan to leave them back here once I decorate for Christmas in the next few weeks on the front porch – so we can have Christmas on the front porch and inside and fall in the backyard  

So looking forward to spending many evenings gathered around here roasting marshmallows or hotdogs over the fire. 

We have such mild winters here that we should be able to use it all winter long – may even have a bonfire with family on Christmas night!   Hot chocolate and marshmallows around the fire sounds amazing

Do you have a firepit in your backyard?  What’s your favorite way to make smores? I think we will be trying out some new combinations and I’ll have to report back on ones we like!