Do you want the ultimate entertainment and party space for your backyard? The perfect backyard fire pit and patio will deliver night after night of entertainment and fun for you, your family, and your friends — but where do you start? When you make the decision to add a backyard fire pit to your property, there are a few questions you may want to ask and a few things you need to consider. This Complete Guide to Designing a Custom Backyard Fire Pit created by Fox River Fire Rings will help answer your questions.
Things You Need to Know About Designing a Custom Backyard Fire Pit
A fire pit provides family and friends with an incredible entertainment space in your backyard — and who doesn’t love a cool fall night by the fire? When you make the decision to install a backyard fire pit, it is important to consider where you are going to put your backyard fire pit, how far away from your home it needs to be, how big your fire pit needs to be, what you need to build a Do-It-Yourself fire pit surround, and do you need a burn permit. These questions and more are important to ask and answer when you build your fire pit.
Where To Build Your Custom Backyard Fire Pit
A key question you need to ask and answer when you decide to build a custom backyard fire pit is where you want it located and how you want the area laid out. This question — and the questions tied to it — will help you establish a base idea for your fire pit and will inform many aspects of your backyard fire pit as the project progresses.
- How far should your fire pit be from your house? — The standard rule of thumb is that your fire pit should be 15-feet or more from your home or other structures with a minimum of 15-feet of vertical clearance from trees or pergolas and 10-feet of clearance from property lines.
- How much area do you need for your backyard fire pit? — When you determine where to build your backyard fire pit, it is important that you have enough area. The recommendation is a minimum of a 15-foot to 18-foot circle of clear space with a minimum of 3-feet for the fire pit, 3-feet of clearance, and an additional 3-feet for chairs.
- Where does the water drain in your backyard? — Where you build your backyard fire pit will be influenced by where rain and water drain in your backyard. You do not want to put your fire pit in a low spot where water collects. This makes it difficult to start a fire on wet ground and can create a soft muddy area.
What Size Fire Pit Do You Need?
Do you plan to have a lot of people over for your next backyard get together? The size of the fire ring you choose will impact how you design, plan, and build your backyard fire pit area. The size and shape of your backyard fire ring will determine how much space you have for friends and family around the fire and will influence how much area you need for your fire pit.
- 30-Inch Diameter Circle – 7 People
- 30-Inch Square – 8 People
- 37-Inch Diameter Circle – 8 People
- 48-Inch Diameter Circle – 9 people
- 60-Inch Diameter Circle – 10 People
What Materials Do You Need for a DIY Fire Pit?
When you decide to design a custom backyard fire pit, you can choose to have a professional landscaping company build a fire pit surround or you can build your own fire pit surround. A backyard fire pit surround is not a super-complicated project — but it will take time and effort to create the perfect backyard entertainment space, and knowing what materials you need is half the battle.
- A high-quality steel fire ring will help you establish the size of your fire pit and the area needed for the fire pit surround.
- A compact layer of sand or gravel for the base of the fire pit. Fire bricks provide a viable alternative for the base of your fire pit.
- Paver blocks or patio blocks to build the fire pit surround and the patio area around the fire pit.
Do You Need a Burn Permit for Your Backyard Fire Pit?
It is important to consider the legal aspects and requirements of a backyard fire pit before you start your project. The recreational fire pit laws and regulations may be different based on where you live. In Wisconsin, the local fire regulations are determined by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and local municipalities. Most cities and communities in Wisconsin require a seasonal burn permit for an affordable fee that can range from 15$ – $30. Make sure to check with local municipalities or fire departments for accurate information.
READ MORE: Are Backyard Fire Pits Covered by Insurance in Wisconsin?
Take your summer fun to the next level with this complete guide to designing a custom backyard fire pit that will help answer many questions you may have about backyard fire pits. Contact Fox River Fire Rings today to find a custom steel fire ring that will fit your lifestyle!
