We built a ...

firepit!

Here's the problem:

wood from construction and demolition taking up a ton of space in the garage

We burned a little bit of the wood last fall in the Cameron's firepit (next door), and I listed it on Craig's List as free wood for burning. I had one super helpful suggestion that I "can have it taken away for a fee" (duh) and two other interested folks - who, in accordance with Craig's List tradition, never showed up.

So Dan and I decided we'd build our own firepit. Since this weekend was the first mild, semi-warm one, and the Home Depot 10% off coupon expires Monday, we formed a plan: buy materials Saturday and build on Sunday.

yada yada, google search diy fire pit, yada yada... we decided to just copy the round firepit in the Home Depot manual which required 48 trapezoidal blocks and 48 bricks (12 each per layer).

HD firepit manual. we went with 4 stacks high (lower pit)

Instructions on the internet recommended building a concrete base (below rocks or bricks) but again we went the easier route and decided to lay a gravel base. My impression is that the concrete provides stability for the bricks especially when the ground moves from moisture or frost, but the gravel should also provide some protection, since it'll move as necessary but independently of the blocks above.

Our poor Honda:

ack! Look at that back wheel!

So this morning we started digging after roughly measuring 25ft from our house (fire code):

Laid some "pea pebbles" eyeballing the levelness:

Laid out the first layer, took it out again, laid more gravel, smoothed out gravel, laid out the blocks again:

level! After tiling two showers, this is easy stuff, I tell ya.

In between stacks, we squeezed out some masonry adhesive:

et voila:

I wish I could say we roasted marshmallows today, but when John Cameron wandered over to check out the pit, he informed us that the area is on high alert for fires because it's been so dry. No fires allowed until the trees start budding...womp womp.

One perk (besides uh, hello, fire pit!!) is that Dan is now on board with doing some landscaping to make the area around the pit prettier. He, enemy of outdoor beauty, thinks landscaping is only for selling the house, and that we shouldn't even consider it until next spring (waste of time, waste of money). Hah.

Update (April 9, Tuesday):
It rained last night so we were given the ok to have a fire tonight. It was everything that I hoped for and dreamed of.

We're coming for you, demolition wood...