My concrete block fireplace pit is a severe pit. I designed it for efficiency. I can do all the pieces with this pit from having fun with a easy night fireplace to utilizing it as an enormous out of doors prepare dinner station. I needed a fireplace pit that might do no matter I wanted it to do. These wants fluctuate.
Concrete blocks are nice. They’re low-cost and versatile. I’ve made a concrete block raised mattress backyard earlier than, and loads of folks have additionally used them for fireplace pits.
There are many fireplace pit choices out there. You should purchase the Solo Range fireplace pit that many individuals like or you’ll be able to simply assemble some rocks in a circle. That has labored for hundreds of years. I needed one thing extra.
I’ve cooked over a Solo Range and over a fireplace in a hoop of rocks. Each could be executed, however I needed a greater mix between a fireplace pit and an outside prepare dinner station. I needed choices.
Not discovering any fireplace pit near what I needed on the business market, I made a decision to design my very own fireplace pit. One massive, modular concrete block fireplace pit.
Concrete blocks are like Legos for males. They arrive in several sizes and shapes and could be stacked in varied methods for a lot of completely different initiatives past primary constructing building. Provided that they’re rugged and fireplace proof, they’re an apparent option to construct a customized fireplace pit.
Have they got their downsides? In fact. Every thing does.
Professionals and Cons of Concrete Block Fireplace Pits
Professionals
- Concrete blocks are versatile. They arrive in several sizes. You possibly can stack them in numerous alternative ways.
- You possibly can add or take away bocks to alter the format of your fireplace pit at any time.
- Development is quick and low-cost.
- Blocks and bricks can usually be salvaged. Your fireplace pit might be fully free.
Cons
- Concrete blocks are heavy. This might not be a difficulty for some, however for folks with bodily limitations or anybody with a small automotive who wants to move the blocks, it might be a problem (lumberyards usually ship totally free).
- This fireplace pit is modular, nevertheless it’s not moveable. Not like a transportable pit, you’re not going to pack your concrete blocks up and reassemble them at a campsite.
- Concrete blocks are recognized to crack round a fireplace.
My Design
The final con, concrete cracking round fireplace, was my greatest concern in constructing a concrete block fireplace pit. I imagine my design will get round this, nonetheless. My pit is sufficiently big that the fireplace doesn’t must relaxation up towards the blocks, decreasing the possibilities the blocks will overheat. If a block does crack, it’s not an enormous deal or expense to easily swap it out for a brand new one.
I designed this hearth pit for work. My design is for dry stacking concrete blocks. Which means stacking them with out mortar. This makes it simpler, sooner, and cheaper to assemble. It’s additionally what makes it modular. If the blocks have been cemented along with mortar, I wouldn’t have the ability to change the format as wanted.
Large, Tall, and Rectangular
Most concrete blocks are rectangular in form, in order that they lend themselves properly to rectangular or sq. building. I needed a large fireplace pit, permitting me loads of choices and workspace. An oblong form matches this want.
The one draw back to this rectangular form is that it’s much less conducive for entertaining company. You possibly can’t sit 4 or 5 folks round my fireplace pit to speak. In case your main purpose in constructing a fireplace pit is to entertain company, this in all probability isn’t the design for you. I exploit my Solo Range for that as a result of it’s smokeless. Nonetheless, I’ll say that after this hearth pit will get rolling, everybody that has seen it feedback on how good it seems to be. 4 folks can sit in entrance of it comfortably, however everybody faces the fireplace versus one another.
The design is sufficiently big to permit for a couple of fireplace without delay. This fashion I can use one fireplace to create coals that I then transfer to the second fireplace. Alternatively, I can prepare dinner on two fires without delay. I also can change issues as much as create a concrete block desk for setting scorching forged iron on, cooking gear, and so on.
The large, broad design additionally permits me to burn brush in it. If I’m cleansing up particles within the yard I don’t have to chop it into small items to burn it. The tall partitions additionally create a stage of fireside security that I wouldn’t get with an open burn. When burning brush, it saves me from having to attend till a dusting of snow falls to make brush burning safer.
Past security, the tall rear wall can also be nice at reflecting the fireplace’s warmth and light-weight. This provides consolation and atmosphere to the fireplace.
Provides Wanted
You will want sufficient concrete blocks, some crushed stones or sand, shovel, stage, and (perhaps) a chilly chisel and sledge. You don’t want to comply with my design precisely. As I stated, that is supposed to be a modular fireplace pit. You should use completely different concrete blocks to create the format that matches your scenario. Use my design as a information, or if this design works for you, comply with the instructions I’ve laid out right here.
The primary order of enterprise is shopping for or salvaging sufficient concrete blocks. The picture beneath reveals the sort and amount of every block I used.
You will note within the accomplished picture beneath that I double stacked the 4″x8″x16″ blocks on the partitions of the pit (second block from left within the pic above). You possibly can reduce that amount nearly in half in case you simply single stack them. Alternatively, you should use extra of the 16″x8″x8″ blocks (third from left in pic above) to make the partitions even larger after which simply use one of many flat blocks to complete the highest, even utilizing a thinner 2″x8″x16″ block. The prices received’t change a lot.
| 16″x8″x8″ | 16″x8″x8″ (one flat finish) |
8″x8″x8″ | 4″x8″x16″ (one break up in 2) |
Grand Whole | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | 14 | 6 | 2 | 20 | |
| Worth per Block | $2.07 | $2.07 | $1.65 | $2.07 | |
| Whole | $28.98 | $12.42 | $3.30 | $41.40 | $86.10 |
Additionally, you will want some sand or crushed stones. This isn’t a requirement, nevertheless it’s extremely really useful in case you dwell in an space that experiences frost. You possibly can search for free sand or crushed stone. I occurred to have gravel left over from an unrelated undertaking, so I used that.
Collect your shovel, stage, and chilly chisel and hammer (elective).
The best way to Construct the Concrete Block Fireplace Pit
1 – Lay Out Your First Course
The very first thing it is advisable do is simply lay out your first course. You’re doing this simply to mark the bottom area the place the blocks will sit. You should use a sprig paint to mark the bottom, however this doesn’t must be tremendous fancy or exact. I merely went round all aspect of the primary course and marked the format with my shovel.
2 – Place Crushed Stone or Sand Beneath the Blocks
Nothing fancy right here. Dig up 6-8″ of floor and backfill it with crushed stone. I’d have in all probability dug deeper, however I encountered lots of massive tree roots that I didn’t need to injury.
Once more, this might not be vital relying on the place you reside, however right here in Maine the frost wreaks havoc on something that isn’t correctly set within the floor. Will frost nonetheless shift the blocks come spring? In all probability, however primarily based on my expertise with the concrete block raised mattress backyard that I made, it shouldn’t transfer a lot. If it does shift, adjusting the blocks to make them stage once more just isn’t a Herculean process, notably with the crushed stone beneath.
3 – Degree the First Row
Now it is advisable take the time to stage your first row. The crushed stones or sand you positioned beneath the blocks will make this job simpler. If a block is excessive, simply flip it on its aspect and scrape some stones away. If it’s too low, add some. Simple peasy.
My design requires 10 8″x8″x16″ blocks, 3 of which have a flat face (entrance finish and again corners), and 1 8″x8″x8″ sq. block (pictured on the finish of the left row above).
4 – Stack Your Blocks
Now that you’ve a stage first row, you simply have to stack your blocks. You need to stagger your blocks for stability. You additionally need to place the blocks with the flat face dealing with the ends (see pic beneath). It will give your fireplace pit a completed look to it. It’s a way more engaging design this manner.
Now stack the second row, once more including flat face blocks to corners and ends for the completed look.
5 – Rating and Break up a Few Blocks
After you have got laid a second course of 8″x8″x16″ blocks (along with your two 8″x8″x8″ blocks) it’s time to stack the 4″x8″x16″ blocks. I didn’t discover any 4″x8″x8″ blocks on the massive field shops or native ironmongery shop, although I’m certain they’re out there at stone and concrete suppliers. In my case, I simply created 4″x8″x8″ blocks by splitting a 16″ block in half.
To do that I marked the block with a pencil at 8″ throughout and easily tapped alongside the road with a chilly chisel and sledge.
You might be unlikely to get an ideal reduce this manner, however it should get you shut sufficient. Preserve tapping alongside the marked line till the block breaks in two by itself. It received’t take lengthy.
To convey the block a bit nearer to a smoother end I ran the reduce aspect alongside the sting of one other concrete block to smoothen it out a bit. Watch out doing this, nonetheless, as it may possibly injury both or each blocks.
6 – Cap with Flat Blocks
I then added another layer of 4″x8″x16″ blocks. You might resolve to skip this step in case you don’t need your partitions as excessive – or perhaps you need to go larger.
The image above reveals how I used the break up 4″x8″x16″ blocks to create a staggered prime layer. I preferred this look a bit higher than simply ending the entrance finish partitions flush. Design as you see match.
When you’re involved concerning the blocks cracking beneath warmth, you’ll be able to go away the wall cap stones off in order that the 8″x8″x16″ blocks have their holes uncovered. This could assist enable warmth to flee up via the blocks versus sealing it in with the flat stones.
I don’t like that look, nonetheless. I’d fairly change a block periodically than try this. The flat stones on the tops of the partitions have one other use past aesthetics. I set scorching forged iron, logs, and different gadgets on the partitions as I work with the fireplace.
7 – Mild Your First Fireplace
As soon as I had all of my supplies on web site it took me beneath 2 hours to assemble. Getting the supplies to the placement took the longest.
8 – Customise as Desired
The design I outlined above was supposed to simply be the start line, the “basis” to work and customise from. That’s what makes this design modular. You’ve gotten choices!
You possibly can construct the again wall larger to replicate extra warmth towards you. That’s nice in colder climate, whether or not you want the warmth for private survival or simply hanging round it with buddies within the fall.
In my case, I added a couple of extra blocks to construct an inside wall to create two fireplace pits. I did this for cooking functions, then including an outside prepare dinner station metal rack that I additionally designed and put collectively myself, which I’ll element in one other article.
That center wall additionally allowed me to show the shorter aspect right into a concrete block desk. I reduce a scrap piece of plywood right into a 30″x30″ sq., eliminated one course of blocks on the left wall and left rear wall, set the plywood in place, after which coated it with twelve 2″x8″x16″ blocks and one break up block (2″x8″x8″). Plywood received’t be superb right here long-term as water and moisture will get trapped between the blocks and the plywood, so I’m on the hunt for a metal grate that I can use to each assist the blocks and for cooking functions.
Abstract
A concrete block fireplace pit doesn’t must be fancy, time consuming, or costly to look good. Dry stacking the blocks means you’ll be able to at all times change your pit’s configuration, change cracked blocks, or simply take away it altogether. There are numerous completely different design choices you’ll be able to provide you with, from essentially the most primary to extra superior. Better of all, you’ll be able to change it everytime you need one thing completely different.
What are your ideas, experiences, and concepts? Let me know within the feedback part.
