- 1). Dig a hole 12 inches deep and as wide as you want the interior of your fire pit to be. Ensure the floor and rim of the hole are level.
- 2). Fill the floor of the pit with 4 inches of gravel followed by 4 inches of sand. This leaves 4 inches of the hole free, which will help insulate the fire.
- 3). Position the stone or concrete blocks around the rim of the pit. The corners of the blocks should touch one another so that the interior wall is fairly solid, but don't worry if there are small gaps in the stones, as these gaps will aid ventilation.
- 4). Lay a second course of stone blocks, staggering the joints with the first course. Lay a third full course, and then lay a fourth course that goes three-fourths of the way around the pit. Make this course at the back of the pit, the side away from where people will sit. Lay a fifth course halfway around on top of the three-fourths course. This elevated side will act like a chimney and lead smoke in that direction.
- 5). Use surface-bonding cement if you want to give the pit a more uniform and permanent feel. Mix the cement following the directions on the packet, and then use a trowel to apply a 1/2-inch thick layer to the surface of all the blocks. Let the cement cure for three days before using the pit.
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