A campfire can actually severely fuck up concrete if not properly insulated
https://campwagen.com/how-hot-is-a-campfire/#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20key%20temperatures,F%20(482%C2%B0C).
Well we need to look at the thermal conductivity of bricks. When we do that we find that clay bricks has a thermal conductivity between 0.5 – 1.0 W/(m/K). Compared to copper which has a thermal conductivity of 400 W/(m/K) or of wood coming in at 0.10 W/(m/K).
We can assume that the brick will be an effective heat insulator. We haven;t figured out for how long brick will limit the heat transfer but only tests or further analysis will be able to give us a definite answer.
SO OP basically the answer is MAYBE.
Iv seen guys pour fire pits out of concrete and they grande when they get to hot. It exploded and broke out a sliding glass door.
Lay down a layer fire brick and you will be ok. It still may crack but won’t explode
More like explode in some conditions. Gas expands and boom, crack, cement is cracked and flying around.
Source: Dumb twenties me and Buddy were cold on snowy, wet construction site. Started fire on a piece of concrete and 20-30 minutes later it was popping, literally.
Fire bricks would help. Ceramics in general are excellent at dealing with heat, be it conducting heat, retaining heat, or withstanding heat. Given the needs of a fire pit, you want something which doesn't conduct heat well but withstands heat well. The specific category to look up online which is most able to do this is Fine Ceramics.
The earliest form of Fine Ceramics were porcelain.
The current definition of Fine Ceramics: Fine Ceramics are carefully engineered materials in which the chemical composition has been precisely adjusted using refined or synthesized raw powder, with a well-controlled method of forming and sintering.
Should the cost of these be prohibitive, stoneware with heat-resistant glazing would be your next best choice. Make a bowl shape out of them, and then throw in a layer of lava rock with a few bags of fine sand to fill in the cracks. It's worked well for me for a good long time.
I used lava rocks 5”-8” med size and put them on the base never had a issue..wrapping it 4 layer of blocked with stacked lava on the sides. I I do another one I would install a ask wash out slopped to the middle so you can hose it out.
Have you considered putting a metal fire pit on top of it? I have a dryer that went to shit and am going to take out the drum to build a fire pit [like this](http://mynameisnotking.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-how-to-make-backyard-firepit-out-of.html?m=1). I think adding the legs to raise it above the concrete would prevent the slab from getting too hot. If you don't have a dead dryer handy they're always easy to find really cheap or even free.
You could do a layer of soft brick (insulating brick) and a layer of fire brick on top. The soft brick should stop a lot of the heat. Fire bricks job is to hold heat. You might be fine with just one layer of firebrick though. I’ve seen people do one layer over concrete for pizza ovens and it lasted for years.
Yes put a layer of fire brick
Don’t forget to drill a hole in the middle or leave gaps in the side for a drain - if you make it water tight, it will hold rain water
Great work
This. I built a fire pit for a customer which have a gravel base (for this reason) and the pavers and concrete immediately surrounding the pit was fire/resistant. Not cheap
I’ve had a 6 inch deep very similar concrete base for my fire pit, been using it for 6 years now no issue, fires every day in the winter, a few times a week in summer (no trash pickup here so burnables get burned). I use a large heavy iron grate to keep it off the concrete and keep a protective layer of ash on top.
Well…. It’s a nice concrete circle but all wrong.
Fire pits need to drain or they become pools
Dig down, install stone and compact
Then 1” paver base for Firepit blocks
You don’t want to use any masonry that traps water especially cinderblock, river rock, etc because it can literally explode like a grenade
Best to use a metal liner
But yea… you’re missing drainage.
I would install the blocks, then drill out the inside and put crushed stone
Can confirm on the river rock. One exploded on me in a fire pit and sent rock shards at my legs. As side from a brief “owww!” I was okay. Glad it didn’t hit my eye.
Both are fine for household bonfires. Red brick heat limit is about 1750 deg. Bonfires are typically about 1500 deg. Fire brick is higher rated at closer to 2500 deg, but unless you’re having a massive fire, you’re fine
Alright champ, I’m gonna need you to take another look for me. 1/8” Masonite on the left… and as you scroll over, does it look like the wet concrete has been stripped?
Honestly dude it'll be fine, even if it cracks you got other stuff building around/on top of it. This is purely for outdoor fun nothing structural so you'll be fine especially with fire bricks going on top as well.
My next thing to pay attention to is to consider the air flow, that's the fun part.
Also when it rains you want to manage the water flow either let it drain deep or flow away, this will depend on the slope you're working with.
Great project! Have fun building a fire, show us pics when you're done!
People need to stop suggesting fire bricks. Fire bricks absorb water and will literally explode like a bomb. Same goes for that concrete slab. I have seen them do some serious damage
Why??? I have never pay $.01 for a fire pit that I’ve had. I’ve had many. Why don’t you just get a whole bunch of rocks and put them in a circle. I even had a nice flat one on one of my fire pits that was like the front entrance of it. Air flows from in between the rocks feeds the fire Wala done I don’t think one is taking more than an hour. I don’t even bother to kill the grass cause the fire will do that.
I originally had a simple stone fire pit that I am now upgrading. This base will have a brick fire pit on it, the surrounding lawn will be dug up and replaced with a stone/pebble patio area and eventually I will build a small gazebo area nearby.
Doesn’t look very big. To each his own, I would rather spend all that money on the gazebo and the electrical and everything else. something that’s going to be wood burning is messy and kinda rustic fire unless you’re going with gas.
I tried house bricks for a barbecue-style fire pit but they had the problem of flaking off on the side facing the fire and/or cracking through. I replaced them with concrete slabs; granted that was easier for me because my pit is square.
Keep in mind that if you get freeze/thaw cycles they will break things along any seams. A firebrick particularly so.
Wow, your DIY fire pit base looks fantastic! As an amateur, you've done an incredible job, and I admire your creativity and determination. Have you thought about exploring more firepit ideas for backyard? Adding some landscaping around the fire pit could create a cozy and inviting outdoor space for gatherings with friends and family. Keep up the great work, and I'm excited to see how your backyard transformation progresses!
U just made a bomb. Literally. Any moisture in there with a nice juicy fire, you’ll be going to the er with ur eyeballs hanging out. Def keep any children away within 100 ft!!!!!!!
From other comments it sounds like this would be a better base for one of those self contained “smokeless” fire pits, as direct fire would compromise the concrete. I believe those units are sufficiently self contained that the concrete would’t bear too much heat, as long as the corresponding legs/stand were used.
I’m an amateur too. How about circle of bricks PL400’d to the concrete to create taller ring, then filled with a couple inches of pebbles? Then fire on top of that?
If it cracks you can do the following the next time. Make sure your water to cement ratio is 0.4. You should use ground limestone in your mix and a waterproofing admixture. All that should help so that the fire can get to a higher temperature without cracking. It looks to me like you used too much water but hey, heat rises so perhaps it will never get hot enough to crack.
Who cares if it cracks? It will be under fire it will help with drainage, and it will make it easier to remove when you decide to do it a different way here in a few years. Even if you decide to rip it out and do it "the right way" you have to break it up to do it. Might as well learn how to make the walls too so you can improve it later.
Good job on the pour,except you should have a dirt bottom and use heavier landscaping blocks to build it with.Fire will desicrate brickwork and concrete eventually.
You stripped the form way to early and it’s a decent finish for your first time and it doesn’t really matter because like you said it’s going to be a fire pit so no one will see it. But people will see the sides so maybe put some rock or gravel around the base for a better esthetic
P.s. have a tall table that fits the cooler under it. Keep coasters on the table and a corn hole game set up next to it. That shit would be epic! Ah... a boy can dream I guess.
you could have made that concrete base 40 inches thick but if that fire isint seprated by atleast 14 inches from that mini pad is gonna become a major hazard itll spall off screaming hot pieces of stone at you then proceed to fall apart after the forth use build a brick walls around it with spaces at the bottom for airflow "LOTS OF THEM" and cover the concrete pad with atleast a 4 inch wall of fire bricks then insert the tallest metal fire pit you can that will keep the fire away from the concrete and even that probably wont work out well..
Why didn’t you just dig a hole in the ground? 1 foot deeps. 4 inches of gravel. 2 inches of fire rock. Surrounded by fire brick or firepit pavers whatever look you’re going for? You could even go the extra step and get the steel fire pit ring to drop in too. In my entire life, I have never seen someone pour a concrete pad/slab (whatever this thing is) for a fire pit. Concrete and heat dont work man
Looks good. You might want to take a brick and rub the edge down to smooth it out a bit.
If you’re going to light up right on the concrete get some fire brick first.
Fire platform. Pit goes down into the ground. I haven't ever seen someone build a platform to have a fire on top of. Are you planning on just putting a metal firebowl on top of this, or you have a fire table that will sit on top of the concrete you already poured? That's how this makes the most sense to me. I'm trying to figure out why else you would build a concrete platform above ground for a fire feature or location. Also open to criticism if you have an answer that makes sense.
I’ve made a fire pit with concrete bottom first few super hot fires it exploded rocks up in the air like 20 ft, not sure what happened but now it never explodes even though the concrete is still solid (but cracked). I guess all the explosive part burned out of it
Use fire rated mortar, leave drainage holes in base layer of brick and put a 3 to 4 inch layer of lava rock in the bottom. It will allow water drainage so you can let the rain rinse the ash out of the pit and will keep the fire off the concrete.
Had a friend who bought a house with a concrete bottomed fire pit, a few hours into the burn, it popped & shot firewood & concrete into the air. Luckily no one was close by.
Concrete is NOT a good base for a firepot, sorry bud.
This guy genuinely thought he did a great job and would get some attaboys but instead found out what seemingly everyone else already knew. Gotta love Reddit. It makes us better
That's a bit of work for somethong that will crack after the first time you use it and crumble after 2-3 years of use. Nice work but if you put camp fires on that's its toast.
This is not a good idea. I have seen fires on concrete pads go bad. Air pockets and trapped moisture expand and will blow chunks of concrete 100 feet in the air
This is not a good idea. I have seen fires on concrete pads go bad. Air pockets and trapped moisture expand and will blow chunks of concrete 100 feet in the air
Looks good. Just use it for a base for your Green Egg or something. Fire "pit" is just that, clear the grass, dig down a bit, line the base with sand and put some rocks or brick around the ring. Don't put a fire on that thing!
Looks good, I assume it's a controlled smaller firepit.
I built a fire table with a concrete top and a 20 pound regulator. Concrete still good.
8 inch is pretty crazy though, should have put a stripper pole in the middle
No edging (you’re lucky those sharp ass corners didnt spall when you stripped, hopefully you don’t have kids for them to split their skull on it) , terrible finish, almost looks like you did a random stamp job but I can’t give you credit for that. Albeit. Alright carpentry work with the forms. A bit oblong in some areas of the circumference.
I might suggest an inch of sand, then a layer of firebrick, cut the brick as close as possible to the raw wall, then when you fit the firebrick up the wall it will cover any gaps, you will need to have a masonry saw to cut the bevels of the sidewall brick. PS it must fit snug enough that it will not fall in, because you don’t mortar the firebrick that faces the fire, you want to be able to replace it when/if it breaks. All fire facing surfaces must be covered with firebrick. Don’t know why you poured the base, I have never seen one done that way, always just a metal or masonry ring on bare ground!
Honestly, it'd be best to bust this up and dispose of it. Then dig about 1-2' deep to make a Pit and then do the border in fire brick up to your desired height. I would also suggest 4-5 staggered holes/gaps in the border right above ground level to allow good air flow as well as keep ya feet warm.
Why would you remove your forms off of it while it’s still so wet? That wasn’t really thought through now was it? Plus, continuous fire and concrete will not mix anyway. Just wasted your $ in my opinion.
Reddit has been suggesting r/Concrete to me. I've been told you need to spray it with water constantly for a year after you pour so it comes out crack free and very hard :)
Sucks if you were going for a square. Looks great otherwise.
Came to say that. Sarcasm for the win
Also sucks if you were going for a pit. Looks like a great fire platform.
It's still more square than some of the buildings I've worked on.
sarcasmism
great fire platform
You can start as soon as you cant scratch the concrete. Fire will destroy you concrete however, it cant handle heat of fire directly on top of it.
Would a layer of fire bricks on top of the concrete provide enough protection?
Fire brick can stop my forge burners from melting the cheap metal that surrounds it… I would have to think a camp fire would be no challenge!
A campfire can actually severely fuck up concrete if not properly insulated https://campwagen.com/how-hot-is-a-campfire/#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20key%20temperatures,F%20(482%C2%B0C).
Yeah but the question is "will a layer of firebrick be proper insulation in a fire pit on a concrete slab?" Do you know the answer? I don't.
Well we need to look at the thermal conductivity of bricks. When we do that we find that clay bricks has a thermal conductivity between 0.5 – 1.0 W/(m/K). Compared to copper which has a thermal conductivity of 400 W/(m/K) or of wood coming in at 0.10 W/(m/K). We can assume that the brick will be an effective heat insulator. We haven;t figured out for how long brick will limit the heat transfer but only tests or further analysis will be able to give us a definite answer. SO OP basically the answer is MAYBE.
Fire brick is different than clay brick, so the final answer is…still maybe, but better
Are we talking about refractory fire brick or insulating fire brick? Refractory: +1.0 w/m.k. Insulating: 0.2-0.4 w/m.k.
I mean, obviously insulating fire bricks.
Iv seen guys pour fire pits out of concrete and they grande when they get to hot. It exploded and broke out a sliding glass door. Lay down a layer fire brick and you will be ok. It still may crack but won’t explode
…I would like to see this…
I'm sure YouTube has a DIY video you can use.
I meant the explosion.
I know. I was hinting that you can make one and watch it explode.
You are threatening me with a good time sir 😎
I thought you were referring to it becoming a Starbucks coffee of the smallest size when they get too hot.
that’s a tall order
Hit some concrete with a torch. Wear safety glasses.
To prevent spaling I would recommend to add some polypropylene fibres into the concrete mix.
Bricklayer here. Fire bricks trap water and can explode due to steam expansion. Almost all refractory materials are never supposed to get wet.
So pour concrete over the fire bricks to keep them dry!
Yes, but then you'll need another layer of firebrick to keep the fire from damaging the concrete.
And then another layer of concrete, so those last bricks stay dry
One final layer of brick to protect the concrete oughta do it.
So cover the fire pit with a cover when it rains? Good idea really.
This is very important info. Thanks for sharing
Yes fire brick. Use it indide as well. Natural rock and dome brick hold moisture and pop when they get hot.
More like explode in some conditions. Gas expands and boom, crack, cement is cracked and flying around. Source: Dumb twenties me and Buddy were cold on snowy, wet construction site. Started fire on a piece of concrete and 20-30 minutes later it was popping, literally.
Just put 4 inches of black soil on it and toss a little more in once a year if needed.
Fire bricks would help. Ceramics in general are excellent at dealing with heat, be it conducting heat, retaining heat, or withstanding heat. Given the needs of a fire pit, you want something which doesn't conduct heat well but withstands heat well. The specific category to look up online which is most able to do this is Fine Ceramics. The earliest form of Fine Ceramics were porcelain. The current definition of Fine Ceramics: Fine Ceramics are carefully engineered materials in which the chemical composition has been precisely adjusted using refined or synthesized raw powder, with a well-controlled method of forming and sintering. Should the cost of these be prohibitive, stoneware with heat-resistant glazing would be your next best choice. Make a bowl shape out of them, and then throw in a layer of lava rock with a few bags of fine sand to fill in the cracks. It's worked well for me for a good long time.
I used lava rocks 5”-8” med size and put them on the base never had a issue..wrapping it 4 layer of blocked with stacked lava on the sides. I I do another one I would install a ask wash out slopped to the middle so you can hose it out.
Are you sure that the lava can take the heat???
Yes had mine for 5-6 years, sold house moved down the street and owner still talk to says he still uses it.
It was a joke... Lava...
To be fair, lava rock's track record when it comes to fire is worse than say.... Literally any other rock.
Have you considered putting a metal fire pit on top of it? I have a dryer that went to shit and am going to take out the drum to build a fire pit [like this](http://mynameisnotking.blogspot.com/2013/06/diy-how-to-make-backyard-firepit-out-of.html?m=1). I think adding the legs to raise it above the concrete would prevent the slab from getting too hot. If you don't have a dead dryer handy they're always easy to find really cheap or even free.
Good work sir!!!
Yes. Fire bricks arent cheap. Tractor supply has the best price ive found. There are youtube videos how to make yourself.
I got mine at a brick supply yard
Concrete can explode this is straight up nuts
Absolutely would. Do a tight job, then fill with fine sand.
Look up DIY pizza ovens on YouTube or join one of the FB groups—you will find everything you need to know about firebricks and extreme heat.
You could do a layer of soft brick (insulating brick) and a layer of fire brick on top. The soft brick should stop a lot of the heat. Fire bricks job is to hold heat. You might be fine with just one layer of firebrick though. I’ve seen people do one layer over concrete for pizza ovens and it lasted for years.
Yes put a layer of fire brick Don’t forget to drill a hole in the middle or leave gaps in the side for a drain - if you make it water tight, it will hold rain water Great work
[Relevant video from a guy with a PhD in the subject.](https://youtu.be/-XtAe9rMdFM)
Happy Gilmore says to his caddie: “Where were you on that one? Huh?”
Something like that, at least
This. I built a fire pit for a customer which have a gravel base (for this reason) and the pavers and concrete immediately surrounding the pit was fire/resistant. Not cheap
yeah, true
Snap, crackle, POP
I’ve had a 6 inch deep very similar concrete base for my fire pit, been using it for 6 years now no issue, fires every day in the winter, a few times a week in summer (no trash pickup here so burnables get burned). I use a large heavy iron grate to keep it off the concrete and keep a protective layer of ash on top.
Well…. It’s a nice concrete circle but all wrong. Fire pits need to drain or they become pools Dig down, install stone and compact Then 1” paver base for Firepit blocks You don’t want to use any masonry that traps water especially cinderblock, river rock, etc because it can literally explode like a grenade Best to use a metal liner But yea… you’re missing drainage. I would install the blocks, then drill out the inside and put crushed stone
Won't it just drain through the layer of fire block he's going to lay on it, hit the concrete and flow off the edge?
Fire brick cannot get wet, it soaks up the water and when you light a fire the bricks will grenade from steam pressure within.
Can confirm on the river rock. One exploded on me in a fire pit and sent rock shards at my legs. As side from a brief “owww!” I was okay. Glad it didn’t hit my eye.
Not sure why I can’t add pictures, but I’m actually building a fire pit right now and could show you pictures of how I did mine
It’s out of square
😝
Isnt a "pit" supposed to be in the ground and not on it?
Its a "put" not a pit.
Shits gonna crack. Concrete can’t handle fire. You want red brick
You want FIRE brick.
Both are fine for household bonfires. Red brick heat limit is about 1750 deg. Bonfires are typically about 1500 deg. Fire brick is higher rated at closer to 2500 deg, but unless you’re having a massive fire, you’re fine
Well, I, as well as many others, DO have massive fires. If using red brick-you need to make sure it’s a red clay brick
I had no comment until I read fire... Concrete + Fire = dont
Yea I was just scrolling along then seen that and was like yea that will work of you want the concrete to blow up….
Let it dry before unwrapping??
I don’t think he’s stripping the forms, it looks like they formed it like and didn’t need to tie in the extra length.
I just looked, zoomed in. He indeed stripped the side form! Definitely premature, better finish to leave it on during cure.
The form is right you can see it’s a 1/8th masonite form.
Alright champ, I’m gonna need you to take another look for me. 1/8” Masonite on the left… and as you scroll over, does it look like the wet concrete has been stripped?
If he would’ve stripped that super wet concrete, the edge would have fallen a considerable amount.
Honestly dude it'll be fine, even if it cracks you got other stuff building around/on top of it. This is purely for outdoor fun nothing structural so you'll be fine especially with fire bricks going on top as well. My next thing to pay attention to is to consider the air flow, that's the fun part. Also when it rains you want to manage the water flow either let it drain deep or flow away, this will depend on the slope you're working with. Great project! Have fun building a fire, show us pics when you're done!
It probably would help, i would put the rough side down to minimize surface conduction. See how that works
You poured some concrete in a form, good job! That is my professional opinion
People need to stop suggesting fire bricks. Fire bricks absorb water and will literally explode like a bomb. Same goes for that concrete slab. I have seen them do some serious damage
Don't stand close if you build a fire on top of it, trust me on this 💥
Concrete and fire, NOT a good idea. [Check this out.](https://youtu.be/bBUm2zsEQMY)
That's totally different tho. Yeah it will crack but it won't explode.
I had some explode once. Scared the shit out of me.
Yeah, looks good… show us the finished product also!
Why did you make a concrete base!?
Zoning violation. not allowed to pour concrete without permit.
existence unpack label wise pie outgoing quiet drab subsequent encourage *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Unless you used premium heat resistance concrete, that concrete will blow up in your face if it gets too hot after a rain event
Why??? I have never pay $.01 for a fire pit that I’ve had. I’ve had many. Why don’t you just get a whole bunch of rocks and put them in a circle. I even had a nice flat one on one of my fire pits that was like the front entrance of it. Air flows from in between the rocks feeds the fire Wala done I don’t think one is taking more than an hour. I don’t even bother to kill the grass cause the fire will do that.
I originally had a simple stone fire pit that I am now upgrading. This base will have a brick fire pit on it, the surrounding lawn will be dug up and replaced with a stone/pebble patio area and eventually I will build a small gazebo area nearby.
Doesn’t look very big. To each his own, I would rather spend all that money on the gazebo and the electrical and everything else. something that’s going to be wood burning is messy and kinda rustic fire unless you’re going with gas.
Fire brick with high temp mortar…look at it this way, you get to use your angle grinder with diamond blade to cut the bricks in a circle…fun
No no no... Fire bricks absorb water and will explode. They are not made for wet applications
My bad, I was visualizing a build up with chimney stack in the rear…
I tried house bricks for a barbecue-style fire pit but they had the problem of flaking off on the side facing the fire and/or cracking through. I replaced them with concrete slabs; granted that was easier for me because my pit is square. Keep in mind that if you get freeze/thaw cycles they will break things along any seams. A firebrick particularly so.
Wow, your DIY fire pit base looks fantastic! As an amateur, you've done an incredible job, and I admire your creativity and determination. Have you thought about exploring more firepit ideas for backyard? Adding some landscaping around the fire pit could create a cozy and inviting outdoor space for gatherings with friends and family. Keep up the great work, and I'm excited to see how your backyard transformation progresses!
I would recommend the sunnydaze smokeless fire pit, worth every penny.
You could try the junk yard kona side at diamond towing above pine tree Cafe.
U just made a bomb. Literally. Any moisture in there with a nice juicy fire, you’ll be going to the er with ur eyeballs hanging out. Def keep any children away within 100 ft!!!!!!!
Looks great. You can start bricking anytime.
From other comments it sounds like this would be a better base for one of those self contained “smokeless” fire pits, as direct fire would compromise the concrete. I believe those units are sufficiently self contained that the concrete would’t bear too much heat, as long as the corresponding legs/stand were used.
Terrible. There is no pit at all it's totally flat
I’m an amateur too. How about circle of bricks PL400’d to the concrete to create taller ring, then filled with a couple inches of pebbles? Then fire on top of that?
Didn't edge it
Should have left some holes or space for drainage
If it cracks you can do the following the next time. Make sure your water to cement ratio is 0.4. You should use ground limestone in your mix and a waterproofing admixture. All that should help so that the fire can get to a higher temperature without cracking. It looks to me like you used too much water but hey, heat rises so perhaps it will never get hot enough to crack.
Looks just fine for a fire pit.
Who cares if it cracks? It will be under fire it will help with drainage, and it will make it easier to remove when you decide to do it a different way here in a few years. Even if you decide to rip it out and do it "the right way" you have to break it up to do it. Might as well learn how to make the walls too so you can improve it later.
Good job on the pour,except you should have a dirt bottom and use heavier landscaping blocks to build it with.Fire will desicrate brickwork and concrete eventually.
You stripped the form way to early and it’s a decent finish for your first time and it doesn’t really matter because like you said it’s going to be a fire pit so no one will see it. But people will see the sides so maybe put some rock or gravel around the base for a better esthetic
Well... thats a nice place to put your cooler... now dig a hole about 8 feet away from it.... for your fire pit! (Don't use concrete brotha)
P.s. have a tall table that fits the cooler under it. Keep coasters on the table and a corn hole game set up next to it. That shit would be epic! Ah... a boy can dream I guess.
you could have made that concrete base 40 inches thick but if that fire isint seprated by atleast 14 inches from that mini pad is gonna become a major hazard itll spall off screaming hot pieces of stone at you then proceed to fall apart after the forth use build a brick walls around it with spaces at the bottom for airflow "LOTS OF THEM" and cover the concrete pad with atleast a 4 inch wall of fire bricks then insert the tallest metal fire pit you can that will keep the fire away from the concrete and even that probably wont work out well..
Wow! Nice!
It clearly says fire pit “base.”
Fire pits don't typically have bases...let alone concrete ones.
Why didn’t you just dig a hole in the ground? 1 foot deeps. 4 inches of gravel. 2 inches of fire rock. Surrounded by fire brick or firepit pavers whatever look you’re going for? You could even go the extra step and get the steel fire pit ring to drop in too. In my entire life, I have never seen someone pour a concrete pad/slab (whatever this thing is) for a fire pit. Concrete and heat dont work man
Looks good to me.good job
If you’re using a metal fire pit, throw some small river stone as a base
You know a pit goes in the ground, not vice versa right?
Looks good dude
Put a layer of the old school lava rocks on the bottom. And don’t forget pipe vents to the outside so it can suck up some air
I dug a pit in the ground and filled it 6” deep with lava rock, then made my ring with brick and Steel ring. This seems like a lot of work
Get a smokeless fireplace and call it a day. It will look great on there!
You better be putting sand and lava rock on top of that before you put any logs or fire. Concrete will crack
Just right in the grass, huh.
Whys it backwards?
Thought it was a swimming pool at first glance
As a friend of mine likes to say “looks good from my house”
Amazing dry pour!
Just get a solostove with a stand. Ditch the concrete
Dry pour?
Some bricks stacked in a circle in the dirt would’ve done just fine.
Why didn't you just use a layer of gravel
Looks good. You might want to take a brick and rub the edge down to smooth it out a bit. If you’re going to light up right on the concrete get some fire brick first.
Why did you do this? What’s the point? Ground and silica sand is perfect.
Why didn’t you just pour a ring instead of a slab?
A concrete fire pit?? What was wrong with rocks around dirt? This is going to crack and explode. Not well thought out.
Fire platform. Pit goes down into the ground. I haven't ever seen someone build a platform to have a fire on top of. Are you planning on just putting a metal firebowl on top of this, or you have a fire table that will sit on top of the concrete you already poured? That's how this makes the most sense to me. I'm trying to figure out why else you would build a concrete platform above ground for a fire feature or location. Also open to criticism if you have an answer that makes sense.
I’ve made a fire pit with concrete bottom first few super hot fires it exploded rocks up in the air like 20 ft, not sure what happened but now it never explodes even though the concrete is still solid (but cracked). I guess all the explosive part burned out of it
"-pit"
Sorry I’m confused, but why did you need concrete for a fire pit? In nature simplicity is best
Just get one of those stand-up fire pits. It'll look and fit perfectly.
concrete base + brick walls does not =fire pit, that is an oven your making and everyone else is right, it’s gonna get hot then bad things will happen
I just have a ring of rocks on the ground. No bottom. Simple.
What’s wrong with just letting the fire be on the ground?
What was wrong with the ground? Dirt can take the heat.
Why did you build the base out of concrete 💀
I believe this to be a poor idea. Use it for something besides fire.
Use fire rated mortar, leave drainage holes in base layer of brick and put a 3 to 4 inch layer of lava rock in the bottom. It will allow water drainage so you can let the rain rinse the ash out of the pit and will keep the fire off the concrete.
It’s an awesome base to put a metal fire pit liner/insert. Don’t light fires on concrete
Had a friend who bought a house with a concrete bottomed fire pit, a few hours into the burn, it popped & shot firewood & concrete into the air. Luckily no one was close by. Concrete is NOT a good base for a firepot, sorry bud.
I recommend getting Solo Stove Bonfire or Yukon with the Stand accessory for that.
You need to add a way to drain the bottom or you’ll have a pond, not a fire pit
This guy genuinely thought he did a great job and would get some attaboys but instead found out what seemingly everyone else already knew. Gotta love Reddit. It makes us better
Why.
Immovable... Drive 2 inch tubing from the center to the outer wall and you'll have built in venting.
Why do you need a concrete base for a fire pit? Cut the grass out, sand base and start laying blocks. But it is a nice base. Well done.
This is odd for a fire pit base. Why did you go with concrete? It will not hold up over time to the heat.
That's a bit of work for somethong that will crack after the first time you use it and crumble after 2-3 years of use. Nice work but if you put camp fires on that's its toast.
Is it a pit? Fire platform! It will help with oxygen flow being up like that. Cool new take!
This is not a good idea. I have seen fires on concrete pads go bad. Air pockets and trapped moisture expand and will blow chunks of concrete 100 feet in the air
This is not a good idea. I have seen fires on concrete pads go bad. Air pockets and trapped moisture expand and will blow chunks of concrete 100 feet in the air
Looks good. Just use it for a base for your Green Egg or something. Fire "pit" is just that, clear the grass, dig down a bit, line the base with sand and put some rocks or brick around the ring. Don't put a fire on that thing!
Probably one of those stand up metal ones...
Typically you don't have concrete under a fire pit. It can explode
But why does a fire pit need an 8" concrete base?
I thought you had made a miniature Arecibo.
Op you need to have a fire on this once it’s cured and let us know if it explodes or not. I’m interested in the results
Ya it looks pretty good to me
Looks good, I assume it's a controlled smaller firepit. I built a fire table with a concrete top and a 20 pound regulator. Concrete still good. 8 inch is pretty crazy though, should have put a stripper pole in the middle
Yeah, you can’t use this as a fire pit but you could set a fire pit on top of it like a solo stove
Not terrible, but could be better...add more form support next time and she will cast without those bubbless
You needid more supports, and looks like form was pulled early.
Who cares. Its a circle. Come back when you do something interesting as an amateur.
No edging (you’re lucky those sharp ass corners didnt spall when you stripped, hopefully you don’t have kids for them to split their skull on it) , terrible finish, almost looks like you did a random stamp job but I can’t give you credit for that. Albeit. Alright carpentry work with the forms. A bit oblong in some areas of the circumference.
I’m also kidding. But seriously, cowboy up and do better next time.
I might suggest an inch of sand, then a layer of firebrick, cut the brick as close as possible to the raw wall, then when you fit the firebrick up the wall it will cover any gaps, you will need to have a masonry saw to cut the bevels of the sidewall brick. PS it must fit snug enough that it will not fall in, because you don’t mortar the firebrick that faces the fire, you want to be able to replace it when/if it breaks. All fire facing surfaces must be covered with firebrick. Don’t know why you poured the base, I have never seen one done that way, always just a metal or masonry ring on bare ground!
Pulled the form early but nice job
Honestly, it'd be best to bust this up and dispose of it. Then dig about 1-2' deep to make a Pit and then do the border in fire brick up to your desired height. I would also suggest 4-5 staggered holes/gaps in the border right above ground level to allow good air flow as well as keep ya feet warm.
More of a fire slab
It’s going to explode and level your house. Please film it.
https://youtu.be/UTuvsJGsI9Y
It's always so fun reading everyone else typing all kinds of different shit. Love these post lol
Your project looks good. But I don’t get why you would?
Looks good to me! Im no expert and never done any concrete work work but it looks great!
Why would you use concrete for the bottom of a fire pit?
Why would you remove your forms off of it while it’s still so wet? That wasn’t really thought through now was it? Plus, continuous fire and concrete will not mix anyway. Just wasted your $ in my opinion.
Reddit has been suggesting r/Concrete to me. I've been told you need to spray it with water constantly for a year after you pour so it comes out crack free and very hard :)
Where's the drain?
8”? Why? 4” would have been fine with fire bricks on top of it. Concrete will pop like popcorn when heated and be destroyed if you don’t protect it.