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How to build a DIY fire pit in your backyard

Light up a cool night with a backyard bonfire.
Phil Aynsley

Love the great outdoors at night? Try this hot idea – build an outdoor fire pit.

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This backyard fire pit idea is the perfect way to entice your family out of the house and bring back the age of ritual. You know, sitting around a fire, toasting marshmallows and sharing ghost stories under the starry night sky.

These days, you can buy relatively inexpensive fire pits, and then it’s simply a matter of landscaping around them. Think gravel and sandstone with granite boulders for seating to give the space an authentic, earthy feel.

Set the party mood with some extra backyard lighting. Why not pitch a tent or set up a bed on the trampoline for the kids? Then light the fire and bring out the billy – you won’t even notice you’re still at home!

How to build a DIY fire pit

Gather your supplies

  • 200 x 200 x 400mm sandstone dimension stone
  • Outdoor fire pit
  • Flat granite boulders
  • Split sandstone flagging
  • Road base
  • Sandstone gravel
  • Native plants (we used kangaroo paw, grevillea, leucadendron, bracteantha)

You’ll also need

Set-out paint; firewood; lump hammer; bolster; garden mix; mulch; wheelbarrow; rake; broom; shovel; matches; turf cutter (optional)

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Step 1

Position fire pit in centre of desired space, ensuring it’s a safe distance from plants and other flammable materials. Using set-out paint, mark a 2m radius around fire pit. Remove pit, then remove turf. Excavate area to 100mm.

Step 2

Put fire pit back in centre of area, then place granite boulders around inner edge of set-out paint circle. These boulders will be your seats.

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Step 3

Using set-out paint and inside edges of boulders as a guide, mark another circle – the space between the 2 circles forms the seating area. Mark another circle around fire pit about 30cm from edge. Use hammer and bolster to cut dimension stone in half. Place on set-out paint around fire pit.

Step 4

Position sandstone flagging randomly in seating area. Fill inside marked areas with 70mm of road base and compact by foot.

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Step 5

Spread a 30mm layer of gravel over road base, using a rake and broom to spread evenly.

Step 6

Spread garden mix around seating area, plant up, mulch and water well. Hose down sandstone flagging and granite to remove dust. Put firewood in fire pit, strike a match, then relax.

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Final look! (Credit: Phil Aynsley)

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