What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Fire Pit? Laying the Groundwork for Safe, Enjoyable Fires (2024)

FAQs

What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Fire Pit? Laying the Groundwork for Safe, Enjoyable Fires? ›

Sand or powdered rock: Similar to sand, sand or powdered rock can also be placed at the bottom of the fire pit, offering good ventilation properties and being less prone to moisture absorption. They can effectively absorb some of the heat generated by burning, reducing damage to the bottom structure.

What Do You Put in the Bottom of a Fire Pit? To create a safe, sturdy foundation for a fire pit, we use a gravel paver base. Other common materials used for the bottom of a fire pit are sand, lava stones, dirt, fire glass and concrete slabs.

At the base of your fire pit, you should use fire-resistant materials. Sand or gravel is often the go-to choice. These materials help to dissipate the heat evenly and prevent damage to the bottom of your fire pit. Lava rocks are another excellent choice due to their heat-resistant properties.

Use bricks and pavers as a fire pit mat.

Putting concrete pavers under your fire pit will protect your grass. If you're using a fire pit on grass, it's important to use a fire pit mat. This will help protect grass from the extreme heat of the fire pit.

Use Sand to Protect the Bottom from Heat

Regardless of which of the many fire pit uses you choose to enjoy, adding sand to the bottom of your fire pit will help protect it from the heat of the fire and may well extend the pit's lifespan.

This is why a fire pit design should include a stainless steel interior liner that is installed with the proper amount of air space between the liner and the fire pit material. This barrier will prevent the fire pit material from getting too hot and causing problems.

Clear away all flammable material from your fire pit. Ideally, the base of your fire should be sand or gravel or mineral soil (often found in streambeds or on gravel bars). Intense heat can sterlize healthy soil, so choose your site conscientiously.

Begin by stacking wood as if you were building a cabin — place two pieces of wood parallel on the bottom, then stack two on top, perpendicular. Repeat the process until your fire reaches the desired height, then place tinder and kindling in the center square and ignite.

Build the bonfire at least 10 feet away from any structures and combustible materials. Be mindful of the weather. Never build a bonfire with extremely windy or dry conditions in the forecast. Check with your municipality for any rules or regulations about having bonfires, and if any burn bans are in place.

Place your fire pit at a safe distance (10-25 feet) from any flammable structures or surfaces. This includes your house, trees, shed, vehicle, neighbors' property, and wood deck, among other things. Keep your fire pit away from overhanging branches. A 21-foot clearance is standard for most municipalities.

What to put under a fire pit to protect pavers? ›

Fire pit pads

These are protective heat shields that you place between your pavers and the fire pit. Since they are created with carbon fibers, they can withstand volcanic lava. These mats cost under $150 and depending on the size of your pit and patio you can get them customized.

Cost-Effectiveness and Easy Maintenance. Compared to other materials like concrete or pavers, gravel is a cost-effective choice for your fire pit area. Bags of gravel are relatively inexpensive, making it a budget-friendly option for homeowners.

A fire pit placed in the ground is an easy and cheap option. All of the work is done by you, and you get to decide how big it can be, in accordance with local laws, of course. All you have to do is dig the hole and design how the logs are placed in the pit.

Before you set up your fire pit for the evening, wet the grass that it will be placed on! This creates a barrier between the grass and the heat, which can help your grass remain strong and prevent heat stress. You don't have to completely soak the area, but you should make sure that the chosen area is well saturated.

Ensure the formwork is level, and then, secure it using a couple scrap 2x3 pieces of wood. Drive stakes into the ground and then wired rebar horizontal pieces into place. Mix and pour the concrete foundation layer about 3½” thick. Make sure concrete fills all corners and let this layer cure for about 20 hours.

What rocks to avoid? To mitigate this risk, it's crucial to know which rocks to avoid. Porous rocks, including limestone, sandstone, pumice, and shale, are notorious for absorbing water and should be avoided in your campfire. River rocks, often rounded from years of water erosion, are remarkably deceptive.

There should be a layer of sand four inches deep on the inner portion of the fire ring. Try not to bump into the stones.

Scroll through to find the one that's right for you—and whatever you choose, do your research to make sure you set up a safe situation: You'll want to set the fire pit on a nonflammable, non-grass surface, such as a wide stoop or brick patio, and potentially add a heat-resistant mat under it.