1-213-433-2590 Cozy up to a warm fire with a new backyard fire pit ring. The following instructions will show you how to install a fire pit ring kit.
Planning for an Outdoor Fire Pit Ring
Our fire pit kit is comprised of block and a metal ring insert. A kit like the one in this project is easy for a beginner DIYer to likely tackle in a weekend. We're using one of the smaller kits for this project, but there are different options available so you can fit the fire pit to your home and outdoor space.
Check the contents of your kit to see if additional materials are needed before assembling. Our kit can be installed on grass — on top of a gravel paver base — or on top of a patio. You can also design and build a custom fire pit using rectangular retaining wall block or set the fire pit in ground.
Choose a Location
- For safety, choose a spot located away from your house and low-hanging limbs, or anything else that could catch fire.
- Make sure you’ll have enough room for outdoor furniture around the fire pit. It's best to keep the back legs of furniture about 6 to 7 feet away from the pit.
- For convenience, you may want to locate your fire pit near your wood pile.
Prepare the Area
Begin by marking the fire pit layout. If you’re building on grass, use a stake, string and marking paint to create a compass and mark the outline of the pit. Our kit required us to dig a base slightly wider than the assembled kit to ensure a wider, stable base for the blocks. After the kit is assembled, you can fill in areas around the stones with soil and grass seed.
If you’re building on a patio, set the metal ring insert in place and lay the first layer of stones around it. Then set the insert aside and continue with installation.
Installing a Fire Pit Kit on a Patio?
If you’re installing on a paver patio with polymeric sand in the joints, you’ll need to line the bottom of the fire pit to protect the sand. Use fire-rated bricks cut to fit the inside of the pit. Cut the bricks using a circular saw with a concrete blade or a stone chisel and hammer.
Lay the Paver Base (If Installing on Grass)
If you're building the fire pit in your yard, you'll need paver base to create a stable foundation for the blocks.
Instructions
Step 1: Remove the Grass
Remove the sod and dirt to a depth of 2 inches.
Keep the sod slightly wet if you plan to reuse it.
Step 2: Compact the Soil
Compact the soil using a hand tamper.
Step 3: Level the Fire Pit Area
Check the area with a level. Adjust if necessary by adding or removing soil as needed and tamping again.
Step 4: Add a Layer of Gravel
Add approximately 2 inches of gravel base and spread evenly using a garden rake.
Step 5: Compact the Gravel Base
Wet the paver base with a garden hose and tamp down. Then add another 1/2 inch of paver base and tamp again, keeping the base level.
Set the Stone Ring
With the paver base down, you can start placing the fire pit block.
Instructions
Step 1: Lay the First Row
Lay the first row of block in place, making sure the stones are touching.
Step 2: Check the Insert Placement
Set the ring in the middle of the stone ring to check the layout and make any adjustments. Also, check for level as you’re working. Remove the metal ring and set aside.
Step 3: Stagger the Second Row
Set the second row of block in place, staggering the joints with the first layer.
Step 4: Add Construction Adhesive
Remove two stones at a time and apply landscape adhesive, then reposition the blocks.
Step 5: Place and Secure the Final Row
Set the third row of blocks in place using the same technique used for the second row — checking the staggered joints and locking in place with landscape adhesive. Allow the adhesive to cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make sure the construction adhesive has completely cured before lighting a fire.
Step 6: Install the Ring Insert
Set the metal fire pit ring inside the fire pit. Finish by filling the pit with lava rock up to the bottom of the metal ring insert.
Step 7: Enjoy a Wood-Burning Fire
Add some kindling and logs, and relax next to the warm glow of a backyard campfire.
Only use stones that are specified as heat resistant in your fire pit. Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of sand or water nearby just in case, and always fully extinguish fires before leaving the fire pit area unattended.
