Looking for a fun and easy weekend project? Add a fire pit to your backyard! With as little as a steel ring and a couple bags of crushed rock, you can create a new family gathering place reminiscent of summer camping trips and vacations in the great outdoors.
Campfires, ghost stories and S’mores never grow old.
It’s easy to install a durable fire pit and dress it up with a simple ring of boulders or pavers. You don’t have to stop there. Landscaping trends today include a variety of stylish ways to bring warmth to your outdoor living space, from wood or gas-burning fire pits integrated in a custom stone or paver patio, to deluxe fireplaces, outdoor kitchens and old-world pizza ovens.
A fire ring can be installed so that it is flush with the ground, or built to your desired height above the ground. It’s a matter of taste and function. And if your taste runs to something grander than you can install yourself, don’t worry, you can hire a qualified landscape installer to bring your vision to life. Hedberg works with dozens of courteous, professional, award-winning contractors around Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We’ll be happy to refer you. Call Hedberg at 763-225-0589.
To build your own fire pit:
1. Check with your city to see if fire pits are allowed.
The city or municipality you live in may have codes governing where you can install a fire ring, its size and other parameters. Be sure to check their website or call their office for compliance instructions.
2. Choose a site that complies with codes, is well away from fences, shrubs, overhanging trees and anything else tht might catch fire. Outline your fire pit (diameter about 5′) using a can of spray paint.
3. Call 811 before you dig to locate underground utility and service lines. In Minnesota, contact Gopher State One Call at 800-252-1166 or 651-454-0002 or call 811. Call at least 48 hours before you plan to dig.
4. Dig the hole for your fire ring. The ideal diameter of the pit should be 4-5 feet. For an in-ground fire pit, dig down 12 inches. Place a 36″ ring in the center of the hole. Line the bottom of the ring with sand, pea gravel or crushed limestone.
5. Fill the gap outside the fire ring with 6″ of dirt and pack it down. If you plan to surround your fire ring with a circle of pavers, add 4″ of Class II and tamp it down tight. Or if you’re using small boulders to decorate your fire ring, continue filling with dirt and tamp that down.
6. Place the pavers or boulders around the fire ring, fill gaps with sand and you’re done!
Tip: Only burn untreated wood that’s dry and clean. Keep your fire small. Never burn garbage, plastic, leaves or brush – the smoke can be irritating, aggravate health conditions and upset your neighbors.
Above all – enjoy some family time!
