DIY Concrete Fire Pit: How We Turned an Eyesore into a Backyard Oasis

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My husband loves a fire pit, and for years, we had one that was old and rusty. The previous owner of our home had a pool, which left a brown circle in our yard after it was removed. Instead of filling it in with grass, we saw the leveled, cleared area as the perfect spot to put a DIY fire pit. Here’s how we transformed our backyard on a budget with a durable, long-lasting fire pit using the Dry Pour method.

Creating the Perfect Spot

  1. Choosing the Site and Preparing the Area:
    • We decided to utilize the brown circle left by the old pool. It was already leveled and clear, making it an ideal location for our fire pit.
    • To ensure our work would last, we opted for a concrete pad foundation using the Dry Pour method.
  2. Building the Concrete Pad:
    • We purchased a flexible piece of cord from the store and cut it into 10-foot by 8-foot strips to create the circle mold.
    • Also Used branches and a few store-bought stakes, we secured the mold in place.
  3. Laying the Foundation:
    • We added a layer of rocks as a foundation within the mold to provide stability and drainage.
    • Next, we poured dry concrete powder over the rocks and carefully used a mold to create a pattern before wetting the concrete.

Constructing

  1. Building the Fire Pit:
    • Our neighbor generously donated standard bricks for the fire pit construction. We arranged the bricks in a circular pattern on top of the dried concrete pad to form the pit.
  2. Adding Seating:
    • We used 14 cinder blocks to create two benches, with seven blocks per side.
    • In addition to support, we inserted 2x4s into the back of the cinder blocks and used three 8x8s for each bench seat.
  3. Finishing Touches:
    • To complete our cozy setup, we visited our local discount store and picked up some seat cushions.

Enjoying Our New Fire Pit

Our family loves our new DIY fire pit. It’s the perfect place to relax, enjoy a fire, and spend quality time together. Not only did we save money by doing it ourselves, but we also turned an unsightly spot in our yard into a beautiful and functional outdoor oasis.

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