Build Your Own Outdoor Fire Pits

Posted 09/13/09

Like all homeowners, you probably enjoy spending as much time outdoors as you possibly can. for a more relaxing and pleasant time outdoors you may want to invest in outdoor fire pits. Outdoor fire pits make great conversation pieces or simply someplace warm and inviting to stand around on those chilly nights.

There are many different types of outdoor fire pits spanning the range from high end models costing hundreds of dollars are even more to homemade structures that can be quite inexpensive. It doesn't cost all that much money to install outdoor fire pits in your home and you should be able to build quite an attractive one at a surprisingly low cost.

Since your outdoor fire pits will obviously be used for burning flammable material, it is important to keep safety in mind at all times. The first thing you have to make sure of is that there is nothing overhead or nearby that can catch fire easily. It would be best to place your outdoor fire pits several yards away from your house well away from any tree branches that could catch fire overhead. Also make sure that there is no dry grass or branches around that can quickly catch fire. As much fun as outdoor fire pits can be, they do require a fair degree of responsibility and care in order to ensure their proper and safe usage.

Since your outdoor fire pits will be exposed to the elements for long periods of time, they will naturally tend to wear out more quickly. That being so, most outdoor fire pits are generally constructed out of strong and hardy materials that will bear the brunt of the weather conditions without showing any apparent sign of damage. Nevertheless, it would be best to use stronger materials such as brick, concrete, or stone when building your outdoor fire pits.

Irrigation is another important concern since rainwater is likely to collect at the bottom of your outdoor fire pits. This can cause you a lot of difficulty when you are trying to start a fire and will make the bottom shabby and unappealing when the fire is out. In order to avoid this problem you should design your outdoor fire pits in such a way that it allows water to drain out from the bottom efficiently. A few carefully placed drainage holes should do the trick, and you should be able to enjoy a clean, dry outdoor fire pit with very little effort on your part.

See also

Outdoor fire pits
Fire pit ring
Fire pit cover

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