It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a cabin in the Adirondacks, or a piece of land for hunting, fishing, camping and recreation, a firepit is a great addition to any property. Firepits provide warmth and light, as well as a place to cook, gather and socialize – and building one is easy with these simple steps.
Building a Firepit: Step-By-Step Guide
All you need to build your firepit is a shovel, a rubber mallet, some gravel, and stone pavers or rocks from your property. (A metal ring and masonry adhesive is optional.)
You’ll want to build your firepit at least 10 feet away from any structures or trees, and you don’t want any branches hanging directly above the firepit. If you are building your firepit on land with utilities, be sure to call 811 before you dig. They will send someone out to mark the location of utility lines on the property, for free.
Step 1: Arrange your base layer of rocks or stone pavers in a circle or square where you want the firepit to be. If you’re using a metal ring, place the pavers or stones around the ring.
Step 2: Mark the firepit outline with a shovel, spade or other digging tool. Remove the pavers or stones (and ring, if using) and set them aside.
Step 3: Dig out the area where your firepit will be. A good rule of thumb is to dig down 3-6 inches.
Step 4: Fill the firepit hole with gravel until it is level with the ground. The gravel provides drainage for your fire pit when it rains.
Step 5: Place your first ring of pavers or stones around the edge of the gravel perimeter. If using a metal ring, place the ring in the center and place the stones or pavers around it. Using a rubber mallet, tamp the pavers flat and even with each other.
Step 6: Add additional rows of pavers or stones, applying masonry adhesive between the rows, if desired. Stagger the placement so that the middle of each paver sits on the end seams of the row beneath it. Use the rubber mallet to even and tighten the pavers as you go.
Using Your Firepit: Helpful Tips
To build a fire in your new firepit, start with a small pile of sticks, and dry leaves or newspaper. Once the starter pile is lit, you can start adding bigger branches and small logs, and then move to bigger pieces of wood once those catch fire.
To prevent forest fires and protect the Adirondacks, never go to bed or leave your firepit unattended before completely extinguishing the fire. Spread remaining embers to help them cool faster and pour water over all the ashes until the sizzling stops. Use a shovel to stir the ashes and ensure all embers are extinguished.
After you’ve had several fires in the firepit, consider scooping out the ashes to prevent them from building up too high and blowing around.