Country holidays are associated not only with working in the garden beds, but also with pleasant time spent in the fresh air by the fire. For convenience and safety, this place needs to be properly equipped.
When planning to build a fire pit, it would be a good idea to make a life-size model from an old cardboard box and place it on the site. Once the location has been determined and the dimensions have been specified, you can begin to select the design and technology for constructing the fireplace.
General construction rules that apply to fire pits of any design:
- The first stage is marking.
- Then a layer of turf is cut from the allotted area and a hole of the required depth is dug.
- After this, the bottom is carefully leveled and compacted.
- Next, the order of construction will be determined based on the design and material.
General rules for site development
We can conditionally divide the outbreaks into two types:
- stationary hearths (stone, brick, concrete and similar materials),
- collapsible and mobile (like barbecues).
Experienced people recommend:
- make the bottom of the fireplace at a depth of 15 cm. No more than 100 cm in diameter, because greater depth complicates ignition and makes it more difficult to remove ash;
- the foundation is made 30 centimeters deeper and 5-10 centimeters wider than the structure itself. Leave an additional 30 centimeters to fill drainage under the walls;
- the distance to tree branches should be at least five, and to bushes – at least three, and to buildings should be at least seven meters;
- do not lean the fire pit against the wall of a residential building;
- It’s great when the area looks in the same style: to do this, use materials that have already been used. For example, for fences, paths;
- Hearths with deepening cannot be placed on hills or in lowlands;
- protection from rain must be considered;
- the use of non-combustible materials is recommended;
- place for the lounge area should be protected from the wind.
Round fire pit made of stone
Probably, stone is the most suitable material that will look completely natural in the country house. Having made a choice, they begin to work. First, a mixture of sand and gravel is poured onto the bottom, compacted and moistened.
The next step is to lay out a solution of clay, cement and sand about 15 cm thick and stone paving stones on the prepared base. The composition of such a solution is determined in the ratio: 1:2:16; 1:1:12; 1:0.4:5, where the first number indicates the proportion of cement, the second – clay, the third – sand.
Then the walls of the pit are gradually laid out, which should rise slightly above the ground - you determine the height yourself. In the spaces between the stones, it is recommended to lay steel pipes with a diameter of about 5 cm, through which air will be supplied.
The cracks are filled with mortar and leveled by adding it or removing excess. Along the perimeter, the cylindrical surface can be trimmed with tiles cut into strips or decorative stone. The bottom can be tiled.
Rules when working with open fire
The simplest safety precautions apply:
- the fire source must be located 3 - 3.5 meters from residential and outbuildings,
- the bowl should not be placed under overhanging branches or near dry vegetation;
- if the structure is planned to be low, it is necessary to build a platform of sand, gravel or a garden path around it;
- Place a fire extinguisher nearby.
What type of fire pit do you choose for your site?
LandlineMobile
Square fireplace made of concrete
A solid concrete hearth will look completely different. It differs from the previous ones not only in appearance, but also in manufacturing technology. After the recess has been dug and a bed of sand and gravel has been created, formwork is made. Unnecessary scraps of boards, plywood or hardboard are suitable for it.
The outer and inner dimensions correspond to the thickness of the hearth wall. Usually for such structures 15–20 centimeters are enough. The assembled form is placed on the prepared base, aligned and secured with pegs.
Before pouring concrete into the formwork, it is recommended to reinforce it - drive several pieces of reinforcement into the ground in 20-centimeter increments. The rods are buried by 15 centimeters, while the upper end should be approximately 5 centimeters below the level of the formwork.
The filling mixture is prepared at the rate of:
- cement M150 – 1 part;
- sand – 3 parts;
- crushed stone (screenings) – 4 parts;
- water – ¾ part.
After the work is completed, the concrete is left for about a week. After this period, the formwork can be dismantled, but the fireplace can be used in another three weeks - the concrete takes a long time to gain strength.
Note! If you cover the formwork with plastic film, the walls of the fireplace will be smooth. To give them unevenness, you can use a steel sheet or other embossed material.
Rating of unusual ideas
Top 5 decisions on what to make a fire pit from:
- drum from the washing machine (you will first have to remove the central axis and plastic parts);
- portable fire in a jar;
- truck rim;
- fire pit made from a barrel. Actually not the best option, it will quickly collapse;
- tractor disk.
Open hearth
Gas fireplaces are not suitable for cooking because grease can damage the equipment.
But they have their advantages:
- fuel is environmentally friendly and inexpensive,
- easy to turn the fire on and off,
- flame strength is adjustable,
- no smoke
- fire is not afraid of rain.
Disadvantages of a gas fire:
- for cooking, many conditions must be observed, from a uniform flame to the shape of the pan;
- you need to replace the cylinder and check the equipment;
- It is difficult to make such a model with your own hands.
Fireplaces where wood is burned
The lounge area and fire pit with burning wood are easier to use. It is enough to put out the coals and forget about the fire until next time. But don’t forget the gas model, it needs to check the equipment for leaks.
A familiar hearth without sophisticated equipment will not be afraid of temperature changes; it can be lit once a year without worrying about its condition and safety.
Mobile fire pit
You can use a metal container or a large ceramic pot. Begin:
- We collect materials. You will need a ceramic pot or container with a rim, four glass photo frames of the same size, a metal mesh or grate, small pebbles, sealant, ignition for gel fireplaces;
- make a glass cube: remove the glass from the photo frames and glue the cube without a bottom with sealant;
- after drying, glue the cube to the bowl or container;
- Place a jar with ignition on the bottom of the bowl and cover with a net;
Important: the mesh needs to be cut to a size slightly larger than the perimeter of the bowl.
- decorate the mesh with stones.
Expert opinion
Levin Dmitry Konstantinovich
The hearth can be used indoors if you use the ignition for gel fireplaces. The gel will burn for no more than three hours, but can be re-lit.
Outdoor hearth-gabion
What do you need:
- one section of galvanized mesh for 3D fence;
- about a ton of large sea pebbles;
- crushed stone (place in the center);
- 2 square meters of galvanized sheet.
Stages of work:
- A small trench is filled with concrete three centimeters deep.
- Leave to stand for a day, moistening with water.
- Cut the fence section lengthwise and make a cylinder about 80 centimeters high and 120 centimeters in diameter.
- Broken brick or crushed stone is poured into the center, and pebbles are placed on the outside.
- Make an internal contour from the remains of the fence mesh; it will fix the fire pit.
- Close the gaps between the contours with stones.
Simplified version
If necessary, you can quickly build a brick fire pit. A hole is dug within the boundaries of the intended circle, the depth of which should be approximately one and a half times greater than the height of the brick. Bricks are placed vertically as tightly as possible on a bottom covered with pebbles or expanded clay.
Note! Fire-resistant fireclay bricks are suitable for arranging a fireplace. If you take an ordinary clay one, then such a fire pit will collapse after three or four times of use.
When laying out the walls, you must ensure that the outer diameter is slightly larger than the inner one. To do this, the bricks are slightly tilted outward. After they are installed, small stones are again added to the bottom and carefully compacted, for example, using a piece of timber.
If desired, you can build a rim - lay out beams of bricks along the outer circumference of the improvised hearth. The gaps between them are covered with earth or crushed stone.
What's popular on Yandex Market
Categories up to 10 thousand rubles
Kaemingk
Metal fire bowl made by Dutch artists. Withstands up to 800 degrees, there is an ornament on the walls, wall thickness is 0.5 mm, weight is 1.83 kg;
Hugett Fire Pit 3098A
Bowl with spark arresting grid. Model from China, weight 25 kg;
Forest premium firewood
Fire pit, thickness 3 mm, weight 6.3 kg;
Sfera 3
Heat-resistant hearth. Thickness 3 mm, weight 13.4 kg.
Categories from 50 thousand rubles
Steel Cup 1000 oxi + Base
Bowl made of oxidized steel with a diameter of 10 mm. Weight 81 kg, Belgian production;
Steel Cup 1000 + Base
Bowl made of steel with fireproof coating. Thickness 10 mm, weight 81 kg;
Concretika iron L100 Plato
Cast iron bowl on a metal stand. Thickness 16 mm, weight 90 kg;
Hearth "Eiffel Tower"
Welded bowl, 3-4 mm thick, heat-resistant enamel.
Block fire pit
You can decorate a fire pit with concrete without formwork. The use of blocks that remain during construction greatly simplifies the task. As in the previous case, the first stage is to fill the bottom of a square pit, only instead of formwork, its walls are laid out in blocks.
The recesses in the blocks are filled with crushed stone or sand - this will increase their mass, which means it will prevent displacement and increase the heat capacity of the hearth. To prevent the blocks from moving later, they are connected with a solution of clay, sand and cement. Laying continues to the calculated height.
The top layer can be decorated with colored marble chips, and the bottom can be tiled, which can also be used for cladding the outside around the perimeter.
Stationary type
Options:
. A recessed hearth on which a stone tabletop is laid, with a hole in the center;
fire pit with table- concrete hearth . After installing the formwork, the future hearth is filled with concrete mixture. You can make a cladding for beauty;
- recessed _ The easiest option is a pit up to 70 centimeters deep, lined with stone;
- brick hearth . The use of fire-resistant materials is important. The classic hearth is round, but in fact it can be of any shape, including with a metal grate in the center;
- metal . Skilled hands can simply weld a barbecue out of sheet metal, or they can create a forged bowl according to their own design;
- Concrete products You can also make a hearth from reinforced concrete products: borders, rings for wells, garden flowerpots.
Ash and coals should not accumulate in the fireplace; they should be thrown out regularly. After all, particles of ash flying in the air are beautiful and romantic, of course. But only until the ashes begin to fall on clothes, hair and skin.
The combination of electric lighting and live fire looks very cozy. Pay attention to the distance of the seats from the fire: vacationers should be warm, but the smoke and heat should not cause discomfort. To prevent the weather from letting you down, you can install a canopy over the lounge seating area.
Hearth made from scrap materials
It’s even easier to create a fireplace using an old steel barrel without a bottom. To do this, you need to dig a hole of suitable depth, install a metal cylinder in it and fill the bottom with a gravel-sand mixture.
The outside of the barrel protruding above the ground is lined with stones. To fasten them together, use a clay-sand-cement mixture.
Design of the area around the fireplace
Options for designing the area around the fireplace can be different and depend on your imagination and the design that you like.
The main elements for decorating the area around the site can be: gravel, pebbles, cobblestones, paving slabs, various artificial and natural materials of various shapes.
Around the hearth you can place garden furniture made of rattan or other materials, benches with backs made of logs, specially shaped driftwood for a table or chair.
Let's go ahead and decorate the area around the fireplace:
- Place for stacking firewood;
- Canopies over resting and cooking areas from the rain;
- Lighting in the area around the fireplace;
- Decoration with decorative figures;
- Fencing around the site to create coziness in the form of a hedge (shrub) or a decorative brick wall;
- Pre-fabricated water supply from hoses and installation of a washbasin;
- Decorating a place for a barbecue or grill;
- You can put comfortable pillows and blankets;
- Set up a sun lounger or hammock.
