How to set up a cozy fire pit at your summer cottage?

What safety rules are important to follow?

The first thing that will help you understand whether you can make an outdoor fireplace at all is the rules that must be followed when setting it up and using it.

1. The open fire area is removed from buildings (house, bathhouse, shed) by at least 3 meters. According to the recommendation of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the distance should be about 5 meters. The fireplace at the dacha is removed from the fence by about the same distance.
2. Flammable substances and objects should not be stored around the structure. For example, a haystack or a can of gasoline for a lawn mower.
3. Tree branches should not hang over the fire bowl. It is also better to remove the plantings themselves from the fire by 2-5 meters.
4. The arrangement plan must include a place to store a fire extinguisher, a bucket of sand and a shovel.
5. To eliminate the possibility of fire spreading as much as possible, the area around the center is finished with non-flammable material – covered with a layer of sand or pebbles, concreted, paved with stone, tiles. In some cases, it is appropriate to lay metal sheets. The optimal diameter is 2-5 meters, with 0.8-1 m of this being “eaten” by the fire pit for the dacha itself.

The rules for using an outdoor fireplace, such as the prohibition to leave the fire unattended or the recommendation not to use lighter fluid, are obvious without additional listing.

Where is the best place to locate the fireplace?

What place to allocate for the fireplace for the dacha is partially clear from the safety rules. The best choice would be an open area in the center of the plot, away from garden buildings, vegetation, fences.

But unfortunately, not all plots of land have the opportunity to allocate 15-20 square meters in the central part, and some are simply not satisfied with the option of relaxing in an open area.

The photo shows an open area with a fireplace

If you want to arrange a cozy area with a fireplace, hidden from prying eyes, choose a secluded space between the trees, but do not forget about the fire safety rules from the previous section.

Often the place for rest is moved to the fence, leaving between the fence and the fire itself at least 3-4 meters. This place will not be empty if you equip it with benches, sun loungers or, for example, a pond, a waterfall.

You can make a fire pit not far from the house, but in this case pay special attention to the interior decoration of the flooring – it should 100% exclude the spread of flames. Between the wall and the fireplace, leave 3-5 meters, this space is usually occupied by a terrace or veranda, landscaping, seats and a table directly next to the fire pit.

What type of fire pit should I choose?

Outdoor fireplaces differ from each other primarily in their design. There are recessed fireplaces and above-ground ones.

• The former differ in that the upper part is located flush with the platform, and the bottom is below the level of the site at the height of the fire pit.
• The bottom of the above-ground ones lies on the site and is surrounded by walls made of suitable material.

There are also ready-made portable fire pits on legs.

The second difference between fireplaces at the dacha is the shape. Round ones, which you can see above, are the most common. But in some cases and design directions, rectangular or square ones will be more appropriate.

The photo shows a square fireplace

The third feature is functionality. A fireplace for a dacha can be on its own and used solely for aesthetic purposes. But in order to save space, the fireplace can be combined, for example, with a barbecue or stove. Or provide a grate on top, a tripod for a pot, a kettle.

What materials are usually used?

Stone

Most often, the fire pit is framed with natural stone – large boulders, slate, flagstone, sandstone. It is appropriate to simply pile them up in a pile or fasten them together with mortar.

Stone is good primarily because it fits perfectly into the landscape, and is inexpensive. And in mountainous areas, the material can be mined for free.

The stone can also be artificial, for example, paving slabs or concrete blocks.

Brick

Brickwork is a great alternative to natural stone. Firstly, it is easy to buy (besides, after construction there are often leftovers that can be used). Secondly, brick is a fireproof material, so a fireplace made of it will last for many years.

The photo shows a brick fireplace

Metal

Cast iron or steel fire pits are purchased ready-made, so this option is more portable than stationary. In some cases, this is even more convenient, because during rain, you can move the fireplace under the roof.

You can find skillfully made bowls with figured carvings in the form of various plots on sale – from natural motifs to strict geometric ones.

Concrete

An interesting modern option that you can make with your own hands is a concrete fireplace. It is made according to the standard scheme of any concrete structures – formwork is assembled, reinforcing mesh is installed, and liquid solution is poured.

The advantage of this method is that you can choose any size, wall thickness, and side height.

The photo shows a concrete fire pit

Ceramic tiles

Tiles are essentially a finishing material, so their use requires a base – made of concrete, blocks or bricks. But you can beautifully decorate the recreation area, including the fireplace itself and the area around it, with tiles or porcelain stoneware.

How to do it yourself?

Having prepared everything you need in advance, you can assemble the fire pit in just a few hours. We suggest considering the option of a simple stone fireplace.

Check out a selection of ideas for DIY dacha decor.

Tools and materials

For work you will need:

• stone blocks;
• crushed stone;
• pebbles;
• shovel;
• slabs for laying out a circle;
• cement mortar or regular sealant.

Step-by-step instructions

First, choose a place, decide on the size of the future fire pit, mark its center.

1. Draw a circle of the required diameter.
2. Remove 10-15 cm of soil (dig a small depression).
3. Fill in 5-10 cm of gravel or crushed stone.
4. Lay out the first row of blocks.
5. If necessary, using sealant or mortar, lay out the second row, shifting the stones by a third or half relative to the bottom row.
6. Lay out several more rows until the desired result is achieved.
7. Place paving slabs around the perimeter, fill the gap between the slabs and the fire pit with small stones.

Important! The sealant must be fireproof.

Want to have a recessed fire pit at your dacha? It’s even easier to set one up! All you need is paving slabs and bricks. Watch the detailed video instructions and try it out, it’s sure to work.

How to set it up properly?

The first association associated with fire is firewood. It’s logical to store it near the hearth, so the woodpile should be placed either next to the site or directly inside it. For convenience, you can provide benches with firewood holders under the seat or arrange a storage place directly in the fire pit structure.

Look at examples of beautiful firewood stacking.

The photo shows a variant of storing firewood

The second association is relaxation. A vacant lot with a fire in the center has zero functionality, the hearth is, first of all, a place for communication and relaxation. Therefore, there should be sitting (or even lying!) places next to it – benches, armchairs, chairs, sun loungers, outdoor sofas or poufs.

For fire pits with cooking grates, it is necessary to provide a common table or individual tables so that there is a place to put a plate of food, a glass of wine or a cup of tea. As a common table, you can specially expand the sides of the fire pit. Handy items like tree stumps or barrels can be used as ideas for side tables.

To make the space truly cozy, do not forget about the decor and lighting. The main source of light will be the fire itself, it can be supplemented with low solar-powered lanterns, garlands or candles.

Textiles (pillows, blankets), beautiful dishes (if food preparation is provided) and decorative plants will help decorate the recreation area. Don’t overdo it with the design, the main role should remain with the fire.

Beautiful ideas for inspiration

To fit a fire pit into the landscape design of the site, bet on natural elements: stone, wood. In this design, the space will look as natural as possible.

In the previous photo, the site is open, but if desired, you can make it more intimate, for example, by enclosing it with an original fence in a circle.

The last piece of advice concerns the arrangement itself. Instead of ordinary benches, for example, you can put a swing. And place the fire pit itself near the barbecue area or summer kitchen – this way you will simultaneously unite the spaces and separate the cooking area from the rest area.

As you may have noticed, it is not difficult to equip a fire pit. But this simple element adds points to the design of any site: be it an ordinary dacha or an elite country house.