Build a fireplace in the garden yourself: 7 ideas

For many people, a cozy fire in the garden is simply part of it. This article explains what options there are and how you can easily build a fireplace yourself.

Basic Notes

Even if a fireplace in the garden radiates coziness, caution is advised. Open fire can spread quickly due to flying sparks and wind. Therefore, it is important to consider a few things when building your own fireplace in the garden.

• choose an area that is open at the top
• Ensure smoke evacuation
• Avoid proximity to trees and bushes
• pay attention to fireproof base
• do not place on a wooden deck
• Keep your distance from meadows or lawns
• especially in summer, dry grass can catch fire quickly
• only burn untreated wood or charcoal
• Provide extinguishing agents
• Do not leave fire unattended, not even let it burn down overnight

Fire baskets & fire bowls

Metal fire pits are easy to set up and easy to clean. However, a fireproof base is particularly important as embers can fall out. The advantage of a fire basket is its relatively low weight, so that it can be moved at any time.

Fire bowls are like metal fire baskets. They are available in a flat version and in different diameters. With this variant, the wood is burned directly in the bowl. Since the bowl is closed at the bottom, no embers can fall out, at most flying sparks can be problematic, therefore, when using a fire bowl, keep a sufficient distance from combustible objects regard. The bowl must be placed on a non-flammable surface and must not be moved while it is burning, as it gets very hot.

fire barrels

Fire barrels with decorative motifs are commercially available, but you can also make them yourself.

material

• Sufficiently large, stable and empty metal container/metal barrel
• should be clean and free from combustible or hazardous substances
• Drilling machine, drill bits of different diameters
• heat-resistant paint against rust (e.g. oven paint)
• maybe a hammer and flat chisel
• Possibly grate/grid if the barrel is to be used as a grill

Instructions

1. If there is a lid on the bin, remove it with a chisel and hammer
2. can be used as a grate inside
3. this grate can be attached with threaded rods or hooks and chains
4. drill several holes in the lower third of the barrel
5. ensure the necessary exchange of air so that the fire burns properly
6. if it is to be a motif, mark the drilling sites beforehand
7. so that the bin does not rust, paint and burn in the paint according to the package instructions

campfire

Campfires are considered particularly cozy. This also applies to the garden. But a real campfire needs preparation and space.

material

• Bricks can also be old and slightly damaged
• stones, grit, gravel
• stepping stones or slabs
• hammer
• hand pounder

Proceed

1. Determine the diameter for the actual campfire in the garden and mark it on the ground
2. Dig up lawn or soil
3. Dig a hole about 30 cm deep
4. Line the edge with bricks placed on edge
5. tap them lightly into the ground with a hammer
6. Compact the soil and fill in with stones
7. Compact soil behind the bricks
8. Use sand, gravel or grit as a substructure and smooth out
9. Lay stepping stones or slabs as a boundary to the lawn
10. Fill the fireplace with wood

Concrete fireplace

Concrete has the advantage that many variants are possible. Whether square or round or both together. It is important that only refractory concrete is used. Traditional concrete is not safe enough for use in a fire pit if it is in direct contact with heat. This or special DIY concrete is only suitable for small fireplaces that are purely decorative. A simple possibility is e.g. B. pouring a fire bowl from refractory concrete.

material

• a very large bowl (plastic or silicone)
• a smaller bowl (plastic or silicone)
• some cooking oil
• finished concrete mix
• water for mixing
• Container for mixing the concrete
• trowel
• stones or sand as a weight

Build your own concrete fire pit

1. Mix concrete according to manufacturer's instructions
2. Oil the inside of the large bowl and the outside of the small bowl
3. Pour the concrete mix into the large bowl
4. press a small bowl into the middle of the concrete
5. Concrete and shells should be of equal height
6. possibly top up concrete or remove with a trowel
7. flatten
8. weigh down small bowl
9. when the concrete is dry, carefully remove the cups
10. Allow concrete to harden for another 3 to 4 days
11. remove large shell and add concrete if necessary regrind
12. Set up a fire bowl at your destination

Brick fireplace

A brick fireplace takes up a lot of space in the garden, but is very robust and durable. Suitable stones are e.g. refractory bricks or special chamotte bricks for furnace construction. A special fireclay mortar is also required. Before you build and brick the fireplace yourself, it should be carefully planned. This is the best way to calculate how much material is required. The shape, height, width and length of the fireplace are determined and marked with sticks and string in the garden.

material

• shovel and spade
• gravel
• Bricks, clinker or chamotte bricks
• mortar
• Water and an appropriately sized container for mixing the mortar
• trowel and spatula
• level

Build a brick fireplace yourself

1. Cut out the intended basic shape with a spade
2. Dig the soil 20 to 30 cm deep
3. fill in gravel
4. put the first row of bricks on the edge of the cut area
5. Grout joints with mortar
6. then place stones on top of each other up to the desired height
7. work offset for better stability
8. Smooth outer joints well, work carefully
9. Check alignment with a spirit level
10. Allow the wall to dry thoroughly for several days

swedish fire

A Swedish fire consists of a tree trunk with a length of at least 50 cm and a diameter of at least 30 cm. In order to ensure safe burning, it is important to provide the tree trunk with incisions or holes in a certain way.

instructions for rebuilding

1. delimb tree trunk
2. make two cuts at right angles to each other on the top
3. Tree trunk is thus quartered
4. Don't cut all the way through or the trunk will fall apart
5. Place the trunk on a sufficiently large, fireproof surface
6. Trunk falls apart when burned
7. To light, put some kindling material in the middle of the trunk at the top

frequently asked Questions