Once you have moved into your beautiful new Lennar home, you may be ready to relax. A great way to do this is by sitting next to a fire with your feet propped up and hot chocolate in your hand! Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Many people have found that once they are completely unpacked, it’s easier to focus their time on the exterior of the home. When buying a brand-new home there is always a professional landscaped baseline to start with. The backyard however, is usually where there is a clean canvas to make it what you want. If the “sitting around a fire” scenario was right up your alley, we have some helpful tips to build your own fire pit!
Supplies you will need:
- Bricks or stacked stone
- Gravel
- Twine or Sting
- Tape Measure
- Steaks
- Shovel
For your bricks or stacked stones, retaining wall bricks or concrete pavers are a great idea because of their sturdiness and durability. You can find these items at any home improvement store.
Step 1. Create a circle where you would like to place your fit pit
Be sure to pick a spot a safe distance from any structures, trees or bushes. An easy way to create a circle is to place a stake in the ground and tie a string to it. Pull the sting tight and walk in a circle around the stake. This will create an equal circle for your base. Most fire pits will be about 4-5 feet in diameter, so make your sting roughly 2-2.5 feet long from the stake.
Step 2. Remove Grass
Now you will use your shovel to dig out the inside of the circle. It is ideal for your hole to be about 6-12 inches deep.
Step 3. Flatten down the dirt
Just like it sounds, you take the back of your shovel (or a tamp if you have one) and flatten the dirt. You do not want loose dirt to build your fire pit upon.
Step 4. Make sure your circle is level
If you have a level, this a great time to break it out. This will be the foundation. If this is uneven or slanted, your fire pit will be too.
Step 5. Add gravel
You will want to add a layer of gravel to cover the circle. This will help create a base to prevent shifting.
Step 6. Lay the bricks or stones
On top of your gravel, you will create a circle with the bricks or stones. Keep stacking until roughly 12 inches tall, or taller if you like! If you feel like it needs to be sturdier you can also use some fire-resistant mortar between the bricks. However, this is not necessary- the bricks or stone will be heavy enough to hold in place.
Step 7. ENJOY
Now it time to sit back and enjoy your labor!
Did you realize it was that easy? This can be completed in an afternoon and you can have your feet up by the evening! What a better welcome than to show your friends and family around your new home and spend quality time social distancing around the fire.
Be sure to reach out to your local fire code department and homeowner’s association to see if you are allowed a fit pit in your area, and if you are, how far away from a structure it will need to be placed. While you are making a few phone calls, call 811 to ensure you are not digging into any gas lines.
Backyard space is always a favorite. Reach out to our Internet Sales Consultants to hear more about details of homes in the Nashville area.
