DIY Network

Blog Cabin '08: Round Stone Fire Pit The fire pit is one a highlight outdoor feature of the 2008 Blog Cabin. Get all the info on DIY's Blog Cabin '08. From "Blog Cabin" episode DBLG-209

Roger Cook and Ahmed were able to construct this round stone fire pit and cobblestone patio in about a day.

This Old House meets new Blog Cabin as expert DIYers Kevin O'Connor and Roger Cook show up to help out with a variety of projects alongside host Ahmed Hassan and the Blog Cabin crew.

The area around the cabin is the focus as Roger and Ahmed add the cozy winning addition to the Blog Cabin landscape in the form of a stone fire pit.

Although tougher to construct than a standard square or rectangular fire pit, a round shape was chosen because it blends better with the organic, curvilinear forms of the surrounding landscape.

Below is a summary of the basic steps as seen in the Blog Cabin fire-pit project, along with a list of tools and materials used.

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Materials and tools:

stone
capstone
3/4-inch gravel
masonry adhesive
metal fire ring
shovel
4-foot level
glue gun

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

Building the Fire Pit

• Prepare your base by digging a hole between 6 and 12 inches deep.

• Set your first course of stone into the hole.

  Stone Selection Tip: Many types of stone can be suitable to make a fire pit, but to simplify your choice, home centers typically stock manufactured stone designed specifically for fire pits.

• Level the first course using a 4-foot level, making certain that each stone is set securely on firm ground (figure A).

• Set in as many remaining courses as desired, using masonry adhesive between the stones for strength (figures B and C). Consider carefully how many courses to add. Too many courses will make it too tall to sit beside and enjoy the warmth of the fire; too few could present a potential fire hazard. With the size stones used for this project, three courses made for a good height.

• If using a metal fire ring in your pit, be sure to check the fit periodically as you work through the courses. This will help ensure that the ring will fit the overall structure correctly.

• After the last course is in place, set the fire ring inside the circular pit and fill the pit with 4 inches of 3/4-inch gravel to allow for proper drainage.

• Finally, attach the capstones using masonry adhesive (figure D).

	Native plants were selected for landscaping based on their ability to thrive in a lakeside ecosystem.
	The filling between the faux cobblestones is permeable and will allow rainwater to flow through.

Landscaping Around the Fire Pit

With the fire pit constructed, the area around it was landscaped with a combination of natural stone — found mostly onsite and reused — along with a fabricated stone patio system known as Cobble Systems.

The cobblestone system, made to appear like individually laid stones, actually goes down in sheets, so it's fast and easy to install.

A special grout formulation was used that's a mixture of sand and epoxy. This provides the look of natural sand filler, but is held in place permanently by the epoxy. As such, the "sand" surface can be swept or washed. The grout is water permeable, allowing rainwater to pass through, so the patio does not create a non-permeable surface. Porous, water-permeable surfaces are, in general, considered a "greener" choice in terms of water conservation and management.

The plantings chosen by Ahmed for the landscaping were almost exclusively native species. Natives are a good choice not only because they may fare better in their home regions than many exotics, but also there is no danger of them becoming problematic "non-native invasive" species. Many landscaping choices once thought to be desirable, such as English ivy and some species of bamboo, have become problematic in some areas because they thrive and outcompete local species to such an extent that they can become a "pest" plant.

The plants chosen for this landscaping included selections that are not only native to the region and climate, but are well suited to this specific type of environment — i.e., tree-canopied waterfront terrain that receives dappled sunlight.

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