Firepit build question

[gofish24]

I have some leftover austin stone from when my home was built and am thinking about building a firepit. Do i need to line the inside with firebrick? Do need to dig a ring and pour a concrete base to set it on? Any particular type of mortar i should use?

This wont be anything fancy, just a place to build a fire on occasion out in the back corner of my backyard. I have the stones stacked there now, but definately want to mortar them.

[Burrito]

I built a firepit like you are talking about about a year ago. Was a lot of work, but well worth it. I poured a concrete base, then built layed the austin stone for my exterior ring. Then I got a piece of masonite and curled it to be a cylinder. I laid that inside the austin stone walls and laid 2 rows of firebrick up against the outside of the masonite cylinder, which leaves a gap between the austin stone and the firebrick. Then I mixed up concrete and poured it in the gap along with construction scraps (rocks, rebar, etc). Then you have to put a capstone on it. This was the hardest part of it all, I think. I used the 1 inch flagstone, which is really more like 3/4 inch, and is pretty brittle. I plan to tear it off and have a pro install some 2 inch. My advice is, don't build it too tall. I would not want mine any taller, and could tolerate it being a few inches shorter.

[Daniel75]

^^^^ nice

[Codie]

my wife and I just built on 2 weekends ago. We used flat stone and construction grade Liquid nails - with regular stones I would mortar it for sure. We did not use fire brick on the inside. We made ours large (4' across) so the fire will probably not touch the sides of the firepit itself

[gofish24]

burrito mine stone is about the same size as yours and im only going up 3 layers. im not excited about putting the top on there which is why im not wanting to put the innner layer of firebrick. i've heard in time with hot/cold weather and the addition of fires the stone might crack without the layer of firbrick. of course thats just what i've read on the net by people who are building the fancy pits.

[CaptJack]

mine's a little simpler than that - works great

[Brandon1574]

I built a firepit like you are talking about about a year ago. Was a lot of work, but well worth it. I poured a concrete base, then built layed the austin stone for my exterior ring. Then I got a piece of masonite and curled it to be a cylinder. I laid that inside the austin stone walls and laid 2 rows of firebrick up against the outside of the masonite cylinder, which leaves a gap between the austin stone and the firebrick. Then I mixed up concrete and poured it in the gap along with construction scraps (rocks, rebar, etc). Then you have to put a capstone on it. This was the hardest part of it all, I think. I used the 1 inch flagstone, which is really more like 3/4 inch, and is pretty brittle. I plan to tear it off and have a pro install some 2 inch. My advice is, don't build it too tall. I would not want mine any taller, and could tolerate it being a few inches shorter.

Nice

[Burrito]

Thanks for the compliments, guys. Out of the entire deck project (700 sq feet, multi-level, landscape lighting, 4 speakers, railing, etc.) the capstone of that firepit was the hardest part.

[Krivoman]

Special mortor for the heat and the firebricks are a must. Here is one I built this past year...

[BlackHillRanch]

Special motor for the heat and the firebricks are a must. Here is one I built this past year...

If you want it to last a lifetime you need to use Fire bricks and fireplace mortar.

Good work Krivoman!

[BlackHillRanch]

Just re-read your question....

If I was building one for occasional fires in the corner of my yard. I would just pour a small concrete footing under the ring itself, then just lay the stones in plane ol Masonry Cement.
If you build it a bit over-sized and keep the walls away from the intense heats it will last.

I work for a commercial masonry contractor btw

[gofish24]

[QUOTE=BlackHillRanch;5101911]Just re-read your question....

If I was building one for occasional fires in the corner of my yard. I would just pour a small concrete footing under the ring itself, then just lay the stones in plane ol Masonry Cement.
If you build it a bit over-sized and keep the walls away from the intense heats it will last.

^^^was what i wanted to hear. if i end up using it alot i will most likley build a deck and incorporate a firepit/place into it.