DIY

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Summer’s not here just yet, but the aromas of backyard cooking are already filling the evening air.

Charcoal and gas grills are a great way to cook outside, but for a more primal backyard cooking experience, nothing beats an open fire. But not too open. The City of Lawrence allows fire pits, but they have to be enclosed—you can’t just build a campfire in your backyard—and you should check with your landlord before buying or constructing one.

Bill Dalton, KU alum, built this fire pit out of landscaping blocks.

You can buy an above-ground fire pit for about $100, but for half as much, you can build your own using bricks or concrete landscaping blocks and a little sweat.

Step 1: Decide where you want to build your pit. Choose a flat area of your lawn. Make sure it’s at least 10 feet away from any structures, bushes and trees, and beware of overhead branches.

Step 2: Choose the dimensions. When figuring out the size of your fire pit, consider the intended usage. Will you be grilling on top of it? If so, construct your fire pit so a cooking grate rests securely on top of the top of the pit. You can pick up metal cooking grates at hardware or lawn and garden stores for less than $10. They come in many shapes and sizes. It’s best to choose a cooking grate before building your fire pit. This way, you can decide on the dimensions based on the grill top, rather than searching for one that fits.

Now it’s time to start building. Construct the exterior by stacking bricks or cement landscaping blocks. To ensure that the fire is safely contained, make sure your blocks fit snugly and that the walls are at least 30 inches tall. Finally, line the interior with gravel or sand to prevent fire spreading beyond the pit.

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