How to Build a Gas Fire Pit

Fire pits in your backyard can serve a number of purposes. They can be used for the weekend barbecue party that you throw on a regular basis or you can light a bonfire and sit around it regaling each other with stories. Fire pits make your backyard or patio look more cozy and also have a utilitarian purpose to it.

Traditionally fire pits are made of metal and allow you to burn wood in it. With technological advances though, you can now make fire pits which have gas burning abilities. Unlike the fire pits that were made earlier, most fire pits made now are in fact portable. While most hardware stores have ready-made fire pits that can be purchased, building a gas fire pit on your own will allow you the satisfaction of knowing that it is a job well done. You can also get an assembled fire pit that provides you with all the components needed to make a gas fire pit. In this article, we give you a step-by-step guide on how to build a fire pit with gas burning facilities.

Building a Gas Fire Pit

Learning to build a gas fire pit with bricks is not very difficult and the entire process in only moderately challenging. Since you will be laying a gas line for the fire pit, it may be a good idea to get this done by a professional as you want ensure that proper safety is maintained while constructing the fire pit.

Most gas fire pits are of two kinds; one a match-lit kit and the other a remote-lit kit. While the match lit kit needs you to turn on the gas valve and light the burner with a lighter, the remote lit kit operates automatically. The cost of the process can range anywhere between USD 500 to USD 1000. Let us now take a look at how you can build a gas fire pit in your backyard.

Things You Need

• Concrete
• Mortar
• Firebrick
• Trowel
• Drill
• Carbide blade
• Rocks

Method

• The first and foremost thing you need to do before starting to build a gas fire pit in your backyard is to decide on one of the many fire pit designs at your disposal. The design will decide a whole lot of things for you.
• Once you have decided on a suitable design for your gas fire pit it is up to you to study the fire pit plans according to the landscape that you are going to place it in.
• Once you have decided the position for your gas fire pit, measure the width and height of the fire ring that you are going to place in the pit and then accordingly make measurements in your yard. You will need to extend these measurements for the fire pits.
• You will now need to dig a hole which has to be deeper than one foot.
• Now take the bricks and lay the first set around the pit that you have dug to start constructing the walls of the fire pit. Set the concrete in such a manner that it forms a circle. Let the inside edges touch each other. This will create V-shaped gaps in the structure.
• Take the mortar mix that you have and fill the V shaped gaps with the mortar mix using a trowel.
• Next start laying bricks around the perimeter of the concrete using mortar to set the bricks in place.
• Now take the firebricks and set it in the inner perimeter of the structure that you have created. Use mortar to set the bricks in place. Allow this structure to set for at least 24 hours.
• Now at one end of the fire pit structure that you have create drill a hole. This hole will allow you to place the gas line for the gas fire pit. It is advisable to hire a professional to do this.
• Once the gas line is laid, insert the fire ring in the fire pit at a distance of at least 3 to five inches from the edge of the fire pit. Connect it to the gas line but ensure that the gas is turned off when you do this. Use lava or sand rocks to cover the fire ring.

You are done. There are many different fire pit ideas that you can use to build a fire pit in your backyard. Remember that a fire pit can be a safety hazard and therefore you need to maintain complete safety while using one. Do not let any combustible items sit around the fire pit. This can cause an accidental fire. Also avoid using the gas line on a windy day as it can cause the fire to spread. Gas lines need to be checked constantly to ensure that they re clean and that the air flow is not blocked. Also instruct your children to stay away from the fire pit. As long as proper safety measures are followed, using a fire pit can lead to many memorable moments where you have had fun using the gas fire pit for impromptu cooking sessions or camping nights.