How to Build a Fire Pit from a Kit | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House mason Mark McCullough installs a fire pit that comes in a kit #ThisOldHouse #AskTOH SUBSCRIBE to This Old House: http://bit.ly/SubscribeThisOldHouse Time: 2-3 hours Cost: $600 Skill Level: Moderate Tools: Shovel [https://amzn.to/2zi2B3X] Wheelbarrow [https://amzn.to/2ADYsHV] Tarp [https://amzn.to/2WOs0v3] Hand tamper [https://amzn.to/2TiTG9p] Level [https://amzn.to/2LGsGwm] Mallet [https://amzn.to/2TnQcT3] Caulking gun [https://amzn.to/2Xjb3b8] Shopping List: Firepit kit [https://amzn.to/3dVQ3y2] Crushed stone [https://thd.co/2zfsfXa] Stone dust [https://thd.co/3g9AV1J] Construction adhesive [https://amzn.to/3cQ8KmH] Steps for building a fire pit from a kit: 1. Determine a good location for a fire pit. Be sure there are no trees overhead or any other structures that could catch fire from floating embers. 2. Use the center ring of the kit and the first course of blocks to determine how wide the hole needs to be. 3. Cut a circle a few inches around the outside of the course of blocks with the shovel. Using the shovel, pull up the top layer of grass and set it aside on a tarp so it can be reused to backfill the hole later. 4. Once the outside circle is outlined, remove the center ring and the course of blocks and dig a hole about 8” deep. 5. Compact the ground using a hand tamper until the base is perfectly solid. 6. Pour a layer of crushed stone into the hole. Compact it using the hand tamper. 7. Repeat this process with the crushed stone until the hole is almost completely filled. 8. Mix a little of the crushed stone with the stone dust. Pour that over the base and rake it smooth. 9. Place the center ring back in the center of the base to use as a template for the first course. 10. Place the first block in the correct location. Use a level and adjust the block with a rubber mallet to ensure it’s perfectly level. Take some time to get it perfectly positioned, as that block will serve as a guide for all the other blocks. 11. Place the rest of the blocks in the first course around the center of the firepit. Check each one for level, using that first block as a reference. 12. Dry fit the next row of blocks on top of the first course. Once the fit is just right, individually pull up each block, add a bead of construction adhesive underneath, and place the block back down. Doing it this way will ensure that all the blocks fit correctly and there isn’t an uneven gap at the end of the circle. 13. Repeat this process for the third course. 14. The kit comes with lava rock for the bottom of the firepit. Pour this into the center hole and spread it out evenly. 15. Take the grass for the tarp and use it to patch any leftover holes around the outside of the firepit. Resources: Mark installed a Necessories Grand 48-inch Firepit Kit [https://amzn.to/3dVQ3y2], which can be found at most home centers and landscape supply stores. For the base, Mark used crushed stone and pack, which can be found at landscape supply stores. To secure the stones in the kit together, Mark used Gorilla Construction Adhesive [https://amzn.to/3cQ8KmH] made by Gorilla Glue (www.gorillatough.com). The other tools Mark used to install the fire pit, including the shovel, level, and rubber mallet, can all be found at home centers. About Ask This Old House TV: Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Jenn Nawada. Follow This Old House and Ask This Old House: Facebook: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseFB Twitter: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTwitter http://bit.ly/AskTOHTwitter Pinterest: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHousePinterest Instagram: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseIG Tumblr: http://bit.ly/ThisOldHouseTumblr Keywords: This Old House, Ask This Old House, DIY, Home Improvement, DIY Ideas, Renovation, Renovation Ideas, How To Fix, How To Install, How To Build Watch the full episode: https://ift.tt/2GJYwpo How to Build a Fire Pit from a Kit | Ask This Old House https://www.youtube.com/user/thisoldhouse/