ATH: Build your own fire ring for cozy evenings under the open skies
By Jennifer Kneuss
July 31, 2011
299
Summary:
A fire ring can provide the perfect backyard gathering place for cookouts and impromptu marshmallow roasts with family and friends on autumn nights. These can be purchased, but if you wish to save money and create the perfect fire ring for your familys needs, it is not difficult to build your own.
Is there anything quite so wonderful as sitting around a mesmerizing outdoor fire on a cool evening, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows with those you love? Somehow, there is something timeless about this special ritual of autumn, as if partaking in one last hurrah before winters blasts force us indoors.
Why not create a unique place for friends and family to gather by building a fire ring in your own back yard?
First, of course, make sure you follow the outdoor burning rules for the area in which you live, and find out if you will need any types of special permits.
Secondly, there needs to plenty of space between your proposed fire ring and your house and any outbuildings. Also avoid low hanging tree branches.
Make sure there will be plenty of open area around the fire ring for people to easily move back and forth, as well as sit comfortably.
Before you start digging or constructing, take a can of spray paint and a tape measure and carefully mark out the area on the grass with the paint. This creates a better visual picture and is particularly helpful if creating a fire ring that is of another shape such as an oval, oblong, square, or hexagon. When creating a round fire ring, pound a steak into the middle of a circle, attach a light rope, and pull it out taut to walk in a circle, spray painting the ground as you go. The best circumference is commonly about three feet in diameter. But remember, your firewood must fit within the frame, and flames can get quite big. Dont try to build for fires that are way too much to handle and that are difficult to keep under control.
Check online for plans to build your own fire ring, or simply design one yourself. When constructing a stone fire ring, you will most likely want to look for fire retardant stones or bricks. It is not advised that you use ordinary pavers as these may crack under the pressure from the heat. Decorative stones or pavers can be laid on the outside of the fire ring, away from the most intense heat if desired.
1.) Remove the sod from the area inside the ring. Pull out any stray plant roots.
2.) Add about an inch of sand where the sod was removed, smoothing it out as you go. This will provide your base.
3.) Take your chosen rocks or stones, preferably enough to outline your area by a minimum of a two layer wall, and lay them the out along the edge of your painted pattern. Fire brick or refractory brick is often preferred for the innermost part of the ring.
4.) Begin to lay the blocks, making sure that you place the bricks carefully against each other to eliminate gaps. Your design can be as intricate or simple as you wish.
5.) When the first row is complete, add a second row, making sure that this row overlaps the first row for reinforcement. Continue this pattern until you are satisfied with the results. Ask for recommendations from your local home improvement store or a masonry expert if you run into a snag.
There! Your new fire ring is complete. Before going any further, make sure a fire extinguisher, a hose, or several buckets of water are nearby. Use softwoods for a quick, hot fire that dies down quickly, or hardwoods for a slower starter fire that will burn for a long time. For special effects of colorful flames, look into treating pinecones with commonly accessed chemicals to throw into the fire. Instructions can be found online or at your local library.
Finally, pull up a couple of lawn chairs, call a few friends, light the fire, and let the party begin!
