Although it might seem daunting, constructing a concrete fire pit with the pros at Concrete Fort Worth from scratch is a fairly easy DIY job. It just takes a little heavy lifting and basic tools, and some creativity. The real beauty of it is you can literally customize your design, creating it as big or small as you would like. But remember, you want this fire pit to be a long-lasting feature in your outdoor decor. Here are some basic steps you can follow to get started.
Get your desired shape and design. If you’re building the inner concrete fire pit first, you will want to set up your concrete base as you normally would, using heavy-duty plywood and sandpaper to smooth out any bumps and rough areas. Your goal is to have a strong outer form that stands up to wind and other elements. The inner unit will be held in place by pressure applied with sandpaper.
Once you’ve got the outer form parts down, it’s time to start putting up the actual inner units. To begin, set up your saw blade, and start cutting the walls in a sloping fashion, taking care to keep the blades on the inner form pieces and the walls flush. Then set up your cement in the usual fashion, lining up the pieces together with the walls. Make sure they are snug but not overly tight.
When the concrete is set, apply a generous layer of sandpaper to smooth out any bubbles, lumps, or divots. Then apply another layer of sandpaper to smooth out any crevices. Finally, line up the inner concrete fire pit bricks, ensuring they are all straight and flush with one another.
Now that your concrete fire pit has been assembled, you need to get some concrete walls in place. Start by putting up the outer form panels, making sure to line them up with the edges of the outer walls. Secure the panels using long screws. If you use steel screws, use long screws so they are barely visible to the naked eye. After you are sure all screws are in place, put up the inner form piece last.
Line up the inner form walls to the outer walls, making sure they are even. Lay down a quikrete layer of concrete powder on the quikrete base. Then mix up the cement in the same way you would if you were pouring it into a mold. Spread the cement completely around the outer walls and then set the quikrete layer atop it.
You are almost done. If you have L-shaped brackets, install the brackets first then the concrete fire pit form walls. Then screw the brackets onto the inner forms. Then you will simply repeat the process for the other side of the yard. Repeat the steps for the second and third sides, following the same steps for the outer forms you used to line up the walls.
When you are finished, you should have a strong, durable concrete fire pit that you will be proud to use every day. The next time you want to get around the backyard, reach in your back yard and take a look at how simple this job was. There are plenty of people who could care less about the outside while busy making money by building these beautiful structures. So, if you are tired of seeing your backyard like that every summer, then make sure you do something about it today.
Start by lining the walls up with the holes you made. Please make sure the bricks or stones are straight, and then nail or glue them in place. Once the concrete has dried, add some more bricks or stones. You may need to add extra nails or glue here and there to hold everything in place. You can now start adding the accents and grills to make the most of your fire pit design.
To make the most of your concrete fire pit, you might want to try incorporating a steel insert. A steel insert is a metal frame with a steel mesh cover on each end. Add a few firebrick grates to your steel insert, and then insert the firebrick bricks into the steel mesh. Make sure the bricks are straight, and then fix them into place with some screws. When the mortar has dried, add the finishing touch–a thin layer of brushed steel. This will give the sides of your firebrick structure a nice finished look.
When installing your concrete fire pit, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions carefully. You’ll need to work with large pieces of iron and rebar, so make sure you have all the pieces on hand before you begin. Once you’re done, check with your local building authority to see if your addition is legal.