Homemade Fire Pit Ideas

Fire pits provide light, ambiance and warmth during nighttime parties or after impromptu winter snowball fights. They also give friends and family a place to gather, making it easy to share stories over roasting kabobs and burnt marshmallows.



Although commercial fire pits can be expensive, you can create your own fire pit at home. With several designs to choose from, you just need a little elbow grease to create your own outdoor gathering spot. Does this Spark an idea?

Simplest Fire Pit

The easiest fire pit to make yourself is really no more than a glorified bonfire. Choose a space free of flammable items or clear a space of grass and twigs, making sure there are no overhanging branches that may catch sparks. Dig up the sod in a circle about 3 feet wide and create a hole about 3 inches deep. Fill the hole with an inch of small gravel and another inch of sand. Surround the pit with large rocks; each should be about twice the size of your fist. Stack the rocks at least 6 inches high and 1 foot wide to keep sparks from straying into the grass. Set some Adirondack chairs, log stumps and flat rocks around the pit for seating and enjoy.

Metal Drum Pit

A 20-gallon metal drum not only has ready-made sides to contain fire and heat, it can be disguised very easily. Dig a hole about 6 inches wider and 12 inches less deep than your big metal drum (they look like huge barrels). Slide your drum into the ground and fill the area around it with gravel and sand. Fill the inside of the drum with gravel and sand as well. Finish off the look by dry-stacking bricks or square pieces of slate around the drum. Push the stone or bricks as close to the drum as you can and stagger the pieces as you stack. Place the last layer of building materials so it overlaps the edge of the drum, covering the metal lip. Build a fire inside and roast some marshmallows.

Table Pit

The trouble with some fire pits is that you have to lean down to cook your food and move somewhere else to eat it. A table fire pit eliminates this need. Simply dig up the sod in an area with no overhanging branches or nearby flammable items. The circle should be at least 10 feet in diameter. Spread about 2 inches of sand in the entire circle. Stack 1-foot-square retaining wall granite blocks in a 5-foot-wide, 3-foot-high circle in the center of the sand. Fill the rest of the circle with sleeper stones or bricks that radiate out from the central fire pit. Fill in the areas between stones or bricks with your sod. The height and width of the retaining stones allows you to roast your food and eat it in the same place.

How to Play the Fire Bet in Casino Craps

If you're one of the rare few who has seen the Fire Bet pay out in Casino Craps, you know that the reward is huge. Because the cost of entry is so low, this bet can be tempting even though the odds are stacked against the player. Here's how it works in case you want to give it a try.

Instructions

Betting on Fire

1

Place either $1 or $5 in chips on the table and indicate to the dealer nearest you that you'd like to play the Fire Bet.

2

The shooter must make at least four individual "points" for you to win. A "point" is when the shooter rolls any number between four and ten, except for seven, and then rolls that number again before rolling a seven.

3

On the "come out" roll, during which the point is established, there is no impact on the Fire Bet if the shooter rolls a seven or "craps out" by rolling a two, three or 12. Otherwise, the player loses when the shooter rolls a seven.

4

Each individual point must be different than the last. For example, the point of eight only counts once no matter how many times the shooter hits it.

5

The player wins 25:1 for hitting four individual points, 250:1 for five individual points and 1000:1 for six individual points. Only the highest payout is given to the player when more than four points are hit.

How to Use a Patio Table With a Built-in Fire Pit

A patio table with a fire pit in the center adds warmth, light and visual appeal to your outdoor entertaining atmosphere. Most of these tables use propane gas for the fire, but also come with a conversion kit for natural gas. A few tables do not have a gas hookup but come with an iron bowl for containing a wood fire. Add in an extra iron bowl to use as an ice chest when it's too hot for a fire. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Place table in a safe, flat and stable location outdoors, away from combustible material and construction and with plenty of ventilation.

2

Position the burner assembly evenly in the middle of the fire pit.

3

Pull the regulator hose through the opening in the fire pit, leaving ball valve sticking out of the opening.

4

Connect the regulator hose to the tank valve, making sure the tank valve is closed before starting. Hand-tighten the connection. Do not use a wrench.

5

Fill the burner with cinders or lava rock included with the table. Position the logs over the cinders, creating your desired effect.

6

Open the tank valve and the ball valve fully, turning counterclockwise.

7

Light the burner with a grill lighter, burning match or an igniter if available on your model.

8

Close the tank valve and the ball valve fully, turning clockwise when you are finished using the fire pit part of the table.

9

Cover and protect your fire pit patio table when it is not in use.

What Type of Fire Pit Can Go on a Deck?

Outdoor living areas can expand the usable square footage of a home. One way to make an outdoor living area more enjoyable is to add a fire pit. The warm glow from a fire can allow extended use of the outdoor spaces into both early spring and late fall. For an outdoor deck you may choose the fire pit according to safety and aesthetic guidelines. Does this Spark an idea?

Deck Construction

The first consideration of what kind of fire pit you can use is deck construction. If your deck is constructed of brick and mortar or concrete, there are a wide variety of fire pits available. You can operate many different styles of fire pit safely because these deck constructions are not readily flammable. You may consider a table style, a bowl style or even a chimenea. You may prefer a permanent installation involving natural gas and glass logs. Some of these you can turn on and off with the flick of a switch.

Flammable Decks

If deck construction is of a flammable material, the fire pit must be high enough above the surface to avoid starting a fire. The fire pit must also be stable enough that it will not tip over and spill fire out onto the surface of the deck. Some of the fire bowls and chimeneas may work in this regard, and some may be on legs but still be too close to the deck surface to be used safely. A safe option may be a propane fire table. The propane tank is hidden under the table, and the table surface is elevated significantly from the deck surface. Check the user's guide on any fire pit under consideration for proper safety tips.

Deck Protection

It is possible that you can adapt the fire bowl or fire table with the best aesthetic appeal to a wood deck by adding a fire pit pad. These pads are flame resistant and are designed to protect a deck from temperatures as high as 1,100 to 1,400 degrees. If you choose a fire pit installation over a flammable material, these pads can add significant safety measures to the fire pit.

Ground Installation

If the deck is at or near ground level but is of flammable construction, construct a fire pit in a nearby location on the ground. Use fire bricks to form the pit directly in the soil. Build up brick or rock around the fire bricks as desired. When enjoying a fire pit, always keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

About Gas Fire Pits

Shaped as Grecian urns, end tables or campfires, gas fire pits can add light, beauty and warmth to any garden, patio or deck. Small glass-enclosed fires can safely warm your feet as you sip sangrias on the deck, or you can roast marshmallows over a blazing fire encircled with granite or slate. Whatever style you choose, gas fire pits provide clean-burning flames that ignite easily and last all night. Does this Spark an idea?

Function

Gas fire pits are metal or masonry structures made to contain a fire for outdoor use, as an attractive visual element, heat source and in some cases for cooking. Gas fire pits use natural or propane gas fuel that is ignited to create the fire. Metal fire rings and other non-burning elements (rather than wood or coal) are typically used to disperse the gas and create natural-looking dancing flames.

Types

Gas fire pits can be custom built or purchased pre-built. The components nearest the flame are typically made of steel, aluminum, porcelain or other strongly heat-resistant metals. The outer structure is usually square or circular, allowing for seating all around, but other custom shapes can be made to fit into your patio or deck design. This outer structure can be made of metal, stone, masonry or fire-retardant resin. Resin fire pits can be formed to simulate other materials and textures, like stone and wicker.
Most gas fire pits can be adapted for use with natural gas lines from the home or with self-contained propane tanks. Propane gas fire pits made of lighter weight materials like resin are portable and can be easily moved to suit specific entertaining needs. Many gas fire pits come with custom fitted metal or ceramic covers that protect them from the elements and allow them to be used as another table when a fire is not needed. Small, decorative table-top fire pits add an understated element of beauty and warmth to outdoor seating.
Gas fire pits come in a range of BTU ratings. Choose units with lower ratings for smaller, safer fires, particularly in windy areas or where children are present. Some gas fire pits come with grates and utensils for outdoor cookouts. Read manufacturer's guidelines and warnings before using any fire pit for cooking.
Gas fires can be lit with built-in electric ignition activated by controls on the side or top of the unit. This is the safest option. Other fire pits are started by turning on the gas and using long-stem igniters or matches.

Considerations

Not all gas fire pits are safe for all locations. Some may burn or damage the lawn or deck underneath. Pedestal styles allow safer heat venting and are typically the right choice for flammable flooring. If building or buying a wall or corner unit, proper shielding must be used to protect the side of the house.
Select ceramic or concrete simulated logs, chips and coals for a tall flame that simulates a real wood fire. Choose lava rocks or vermiculite and a top layer of fire-safe glass beads for a low flame that reflects brightly and generates steady warmth. A metal fire ring over the burner helps displace the gas for a more realistic dancing flame. Fire screens or tempered glass enclosures are available for added safety.
Choose water-resistant fire pits with accessories made of concrete to prevent water damage. Cover all fire pits after use (after all parts are cool) to protect the materials from rain, sun and debris. Buy fire pits with matching covers, or purchase less expensive vinyl covers that work with a variety of gas fire pits.

Benefits

Gas fire pits burn cleaner and use less natural resources. No volume buying of wood or coal is necessary; faux wood logs and lava rocks last for years with a gas flame. Gas fires are low maintenance, and in many instances can be operated with a mere flip of a switch. The fire burns bright and evenly all night, with no need to keep feeding or stoking the fire. Special fire-safe glass rocks create steady warmth for all those close to the gas fire pit.

Warning

Never use a gas fire pit indoors or in an enclosed area. Gas appliances use up oxygen, and unvented use can lead to illness or even death.
Use only heat-safe materials as accessories in a gas fire pit. Rocks, simulated logs and glass must be fire-pit approved. Read all manufacturer's instructions and warnings carefully.
Avoid heating or cooking food using a gas fire pit, unless the model is specifically designed for this use. Drippings from food can clog gas outlets and cause the fire pit to malfunction.
Natural gas lines for gas fire pits should only be installed by a qualified installer, service agency or your local natural gas supplier. Improper installation can lead to gas leaks, explosions, property damage and physical injury.