A concrete fire pit adds warmth, beauty and intrigue to your outdoor living space, while providing a wonderful place to gather with family and friends. Best of all, you can create your own if you know the right steps. Build a safe, attractive backyard fire pit with this informative guide from the concrete experts at AAA Concrete Raising.

Things You Will Need

  • gravel
  • flagstone
  • metal fire pit bowl
  • pebbles
  • type 2 cement
  • wood stakes
  • type “S” mortar
  • rebar
  • forming nails
  • 2×12 boards
  • 2×6 boards
  • steel wire
  • mallet

Step 1 – Choose and Grade the Area

Choose a good place for your fire pit. Bear in mind that most cities have laws about keeping fire pits a certain distance from structures. Be sure you are in compliance before you start building. Once you find your spot, grade the area and add sand or base rock to create a level foundation.

Step 2 – Form the Exterior

Make a square by nailing together four 2×12 boards (4-foot lengths). Set the wood square on the graded area. Next, construct a second square out of 2x6s (4-foot lengths). Set this second square on top of the first one and secure them together by hammering 2-1/2-inch-long forming stakes into the ground on the exterior of the form. Use a pair of stakes on each side. These will keep the squares together and secure the entire form to the ground so it won’t shift.

Step 3 – Create Interior Form

Create a second set of wood squares just as you did in step 3, but make them 8 to 10 inches smaller. Secure the two stacked smaller wood squares together by nailing foot-long sections of 2×6 boards to the inside (not the outside) of the frame. Place the smaller square wood frame inside the larger exterior wood frame, making sure to create an even 4- to 5-inch gap that you will fill with concrete. Now you should have one small wood frame sitting inside a large wood frame, creating an empty 4- to 5-inch gap where you can pour your cement.

Step 4 – Reinforce

concrete fire pit with chairsHammer 20-inch-long pieces of rebar into the inner corners of the empty square gap and along every foot of space all throughout the inside the frame. These vertical pieces of rebar will serve to reinforce the poured concrete. Make sure each piece of rebar is securely hammered into the ground and sits below the edge of your wooden frame.

Now, create a grid by running 4-foot strips of rebar horizontally, about halfway up between the vertical rebar. Tie these together with steel metal wire. Think of this like a metal skeleton that will help support the concrete walls of your firepit.

Step 5 -. Pour Concrete

Mix your concrete and pour it into the empty gap between the two wood frames. Tamp down the wet concrete to eliminate air holes and prevent any extra space from forming within the form. Smooth the top of the wet concrete using a trowel. Take your mallet and tap the forms while the concrete is wet to help separate the concrete from the forms while they dry. Wait 24 hours for the concrete to dry.

Step 6 – Strip Off the Forms

Once the concrete has fully dried, gently remove the wood forms.

Step 7 – Finish Up

Create a smooth finish on the outside of your concrete frame by applying a thin layer of mortar. If you’d like, you can cut pieces of slate to fit the top of the frame and use mortar to hold them in place.

Step 8 – Add Gravel

Fill your empty fire pit about three-quarters high with gravel, so the top of your fire bowl will sit flush with the concrete frame.

Step 9 – Secure the Fire Bowl

Set your fire bowl atop the gravel, adding or removing gravel to achieve the desired height.

Step 10 – Add Decorative Rock

Apply Mexican pebble or other large cobblestones along the outside of the fire bowl, hiding all but the top rim. You can then add some slate or flagstone to cap the concrete frame.

Concrete Repair

While you’re building your fire pit, take a look at your porch and driveway. Do you see any cracks or shifting? If so, it’s time to call AAA Concrete Raising.

For nearly a quarter of a century, we’ve served Colorado homeowners and businesses all around the Denver metro area. Our innovative equipment eliminates the need for loud, awkward machinery, ensuring timely, efficient work that doesn’t disrupt the local neighborhood. AAA Concrete Raising brings the best materials and leading-edge expertise to completely fill and support the voids beneath concrete slabs. This ensures a safe, functional concrete surface and avoids the need for total slab replacement. Contact our team to learn more.