More and more people are trying to escape to nature from the stuffy city. Many people buy small country plots for themselves and spend the weekend there. Fire is a symbol for any person, it is very simple, but at the same time such a pleasant pastime - sitting in front of a fire.
Since ancient times, fire has attracted man, and to this day it is so. This is not only a great vacation, but also a chance to cook something in nature. A fireplace in landscape design in a country house can be entered in a modern and unique way, especially since stores provide a huge selection of bowls for the hearth, but you can also make it yourself.
Fireplace location options
Before you equip the hearth in the country, you need to think about fire safety. Since fires are a terrible phenomenon, it is worth taking a fire near a country house or cottage very carefully. There are several rules to follow when looking for a campfire location.
It should be located at a distance from a residential building, outbuildings, parking lots and other places where there is a high probability of a fire.
The area around the hearth must be lined with non-combustible material. It can be stone, sand or any material that cannot be ignited.
The most common is to cover the site with iron using a sand and gravel mixture.
Now let's talk directly about the options for the location of the hearth in the country.
Overhead position
So, the place for the fire is determined, now you need to clear the site. At this stage, garbage is removed, the surface is leveled, and the roots of plants are removed. Usually, the hearth is made in a round shape with high sides.
Be sure to remove a layer of turf in order to lay out the site with paving slabs in the future. In the center of the intended site, a place for a fire is made out. For these purposes, you can use a metal rim. Before laying it, remove the top layer of soil and level the surface.
The walls of the hearth structure must be thick, otherwise the hearth will not be strong. That is why it is necessary to lay out concrete blocks or stones in several rows around the circumference of the rim. You can use stone cobblestone or paving slabs. Be sure to fasten each element with a concrete solution; clay can be used for natural stone.
In order to avoid such a situation after precipitation that the hearth is overflowing with water, it must be equipped with a lid. This can be done from a sheet of metal.
Fireplace buried in the ground
You can make a hearth in the country below the surface of the earth. To do this, a pit is pulled out with a depth of at least 30 cm. The same metal rim is inserted into the pit or the edges are processed with sheet metal.
Sand or fine gravel is poured to the bottom. You can decorate the pit with ready-made blocks by connecting them together with glue specially designed for stoves and fireplaces. The upper ground part of the hearth is laid out with a suitable design stone, as described in the previous version.
Arrangement of the site around the hearth
Making the hearth itself is only half the battle, you also need to arrange the site according to the rules and equip it with everything necessary for a comfortable stay.
We decorate the site
You can cover the surface of the earth next to the hearth with gravel, pebbles or lay out paving slabs. If you make it wide, you can get a full-fledged place to relax. Plates of various shapes look very original, with which you can lay out any pattern. It will be possible to put garden furniture on them and thereby get a cozy corner in the bosom of nature.
In addition, you can put a circular bench or sofa near the hearth, but for this option it will not be superfluous to equip the roof to save furniture from rain. The bench is decorated with pillows and decorative rugs.
If there is material left from the arrangement of the hearth itself, then you can lay out a supporting wall, which will serve as a back for the bench.
It is best to equip a firewood shed next to the site so as not to constantly go far for firewood. To maintain the overall style, it is decorated in the same way as the fireplace itself.
From the cottage to the hearth there can be a path, the edges of which can be easily equipped with lanterns. In the evening, their light will add romance.
In most dachas, you can see the design of the hearth in the form of the sun with rays emanating from it. A fire pit in the form of a crater of the moon or stylized as a fireplace will look beautiful and interesting. On the site you can install garden figures.
Furniture in the design
Having created a platform, do not forget about pieces of furniture on which guests and owners of the house can sit.
After all, you won’t just stand in front of a fire in the country and watch how it burns. It's always nice to cook something tasty and immediately arrange a family dinner.
Those who want to create a semblance of a forest fire can be offered to make seats from logs, and for convenience, create backs for them. In addition, the logs can be sanded and varnished to make them last longer.
Low mobility, but very beautiful is the option of creating seats from the material that the hearth itself is trimmed with. Since the fireplace is round, the bench must also be laid out in a semicircle, so it will be aesthetically more correct.
Important! No need to sit on a bare stone, you need to put sofa decorative pillows on the bench and decorate the back with them.
Options for the hearth to give
Here I would like to give several options for making hearths for summer cottages. It is not difficult to perform them on your own, but you need to strictly follow the work technology.
Brick hearth
Special materials for its arrangement will not be needed, brick and cement will be enough. Making a hearth is very easy. You can place it in a pit, thereby getting a hearth recessed into the ground or starting laying on the surface of the earth. Masonry is used the most common, as when building a house.
The second way of laying is laying bricks in a circle, while they occupy a horizontal or vertical position. To create low sides, one row of horizontally arranged bricks is enough.
To create a large fire pit, bricks are laid out horizontally in several rows. It must be remembered that in the sides of the hearth it is necessary to leave holes for air access, in this case the fire will burn much better.
If fantasy requires, then the hearth may not be perfectly round, but symmetrical in shape. In this design, cobblestones are also used, of which there are plenty in the country.
Hearth under the cauldron
If the main thing for which the hearth is installed is cooking, then it must be oriented to the possibility of placing a cauldron.
The first option, which will make it possible to put a cauldron, is the formation of a small diameter fireplace, on which it is quite possible to install a cauldron from above.
If you do not want to be limited in size, then you can make a metal grate, which, if necessary, can be installed on the hearth, and put a cauldron on top. The simplest and most budgetary option is a hearth from an old car disk.
The recreation area equipped in the summer cottage will become your favorite place to spend time near the fire with friends and relatives.
If you like to spend time in the country, then undoubtedly, your suburban area should have an equipped campfire site. How to make a place for a fire in the country with our own hands, we will tell in this article. We share our experience in the arrangement and design of the hearth. In our master class, we will tell you how to make a campfire site in the country with your own hands.
Before us is a ready-made recreation area with a pit for a fire. Before you get started, you will need the following building materials and tools.
Materials and tools for building a fire pit with your own hands:
- Cement: 5-6 bags
- Heat resistant adhesive for stoves and fireplaces: 5-6 bags
- Building reinforcement 8-10 mm: 10 pieces of 60 cm.
- Stone-sandstone: 750 kg
- Refractory brick: 60 pcs.
From the tool you will need:
- Protective glasses
- watering hose
- Wheelbarrow
- Chisel for stone
- A hammer
- Shovel
- Gloves
- Patience
Before you start the main work, you need to choose the right place for the fire. Try to place a recreation area with a hearth away from residential buildings. Remember that the smoke from the fire should not enter the living quarters. If there are neighbors living around your property, keep in mind that they may also be uncomfortable with the smoke. The best solution would be to coordinate with your neighbors the future place for the fire.
Campfire site dimensions
When a place is chosen, it is necessary to determine the size of the site for the fire. In our master class, a campfire site in the country (see example in the photo) has the following dimensions.
Hearth diameter 1.5 m.
Height 45 cm.
The dimensions of the hearth can be changed at will. Before starting construction, you can make a preliminary calculation of the future hearth.
So, we chose a place for a fire in our summer cottage. They took measurements and made markings with the help of a simple device. To make an even circle, we will use a homemade compass, and for its manufacture you will need: a stick (you can use a pipe or fittings) and a rope.
We determine the center of the fire pit and drive in a stick to which the rope is tied. Everything, our compass is ready. Important! The size of the rope should be equal to the radius of the hearth.
Advice! To mark the area for the hole, use a paint spray can that can be tied to the end of a rope.
Having made the markup, we determined the place for the foundation of the hearth. Armed with a shovel, we begin to dig a hole. In order for the campfire site to serve you for more than one summer season, we advise you to first determine the depth of soil freezing. Professional builders advise digging a foundation hole at least 90 cm deep. Also, you need to take into account climatic conditions and humidity.
After the foundation pit is ready, we proceed to reinforce the foundation and pour it with concrete.
The mixed concrete solution must be poured into the prepared pit, this must be done slowly, let the solution fill all the cavities. When the work on pouring the foundation is completed, it is necessary to level the surface with a wooden block or a special spatula. Make sure the concrete mix is even.
Wait for the solution to dry completely. While the concrete mixture hardens, you can start sorting the stone. Distribute it in such a way that the big ones are in one pile, the flat ones in another. Decide which stones you will use to base the hearth.
Advice! Before starting work on laying stones on glue, make a trial calculation of the first row. When choosing stones for the first row, give preference to an even and flat stone that does not have bumps and bends. Experienced craftsmen, before laying out the stones, process them with a special tool. Giving the base a flat shape.
When foundation dry, you can start laying the first row of stones, using the principle of Tetris. Important! Stone blocks should be in contact with each other as tightly as possible.
We admit that this is the most responsible and unhurried work, which can take a lot of time. Advice - be patient, it depends on this stage of work how the hearth will look like in a summer cottage made by yourself.
Mix the amount of mortar necessary for work, laying out a new batch of stone. The main thing is to take your time and mix the required amount of mortar, this will help you avoid wasting expensive material.
Advice! To avoid damage to the lawn and the site, try to do all the work in one place.
The task of laying the stone will become more difficult with the new level. Ideally, the upper edge of the laid out hearth should be at the same level, because such a hearth looks beautiful. Aligning the last row of stone is not easy. Use a mallet and hammer, and if you have a power stone tool, the task of leveling the top edge of the fire pit will be much easier.
The photo above shows the penultimate row of a fire pit, inside which refractory bricks are laid out, fastened with a special mortar.
When laying stone and brick, craftsmen advise leaving small gaps for ventilation. Based on my own experience, this can not be done, since the size of the fire pit already provides air access.
When the work on laying stone and brick is completed, the bottom of the pit must be filled with fine gravel. As you use it, it can be easily washed or replaced with a new one.
So, the do-it-yourself hearth made in the country is ready, and the next step will be to check it.
Place for a fire, hearth in the country (photo) As can be seen from the photo, the grass around the hearth is heavily trampled. The next step is to arrange the space around the fire pit.
To do this, we take a homemade compass, and determine the size of the area around the hearth. When the markup is done, we take the shovel and remove the sod around the pit (see photo below).
Do not forget to prepare in advance the place where you will transfer the removed turf and earth. Once the sod around the fire pit has been removed, deepen the space to the required depth, but remember that the depth must be at least 8 cm.
Place for a fire, hearth in the country (photo) Advice! When this stage of site arrangement is also completed, we recommend laying geotextile material on the bottom. Thus, you will avoid contact between soil and gravel. Do not forget about climatic features and rainy weather.
After the preparation of the site is completed, it must be covered with fine gravel. Try to choose the right combination of stone color and gravel area to be filled.
If you do not want to use gravel, then it can be any other material. For example: garden tiles, small river stones, paving stones, etc. Gravel stone is one of the budget options for arranging a fire pit and can be replaced at any time with a more suitable one.
Place for a fire, hearth in the country (photo)
So, when all the work on the construction of the campfire site and the surrounding area is ready, you can invite friends and have a party. Before that, do not forget to stack firewood next to the hearth so that they do not have to be carried from the back of the site.
If you want the fireside to look cozier, plant suitable plants and shrubs around it. Red, orange and yellow colors will look great. 
As can be seen from the photo, the stones remaining from the construction found their use and a small path was laid out with them. Now you can comfortably sit by the fire and spend unforgettable evenings to the sound of firewood crackling in the hearth.
A fireplace in landscape design is a wonderful decorative element that will decorate your summer cottage, adding harmony to the surroundings. In addition, a fireplace in the country house will also perform a practical option, because every spring and autumn trees are cut down on the plot, leaves and garbage accumulated over the winter are collected. All this is burned in a common heap, and sometimes such an unfenced fire pit is completely unsafe.
What are the foci
Foci can be of 3 varieties: open, in-depth and closed. They can be purchased in specialized stores, ordered from craftsmen or made by hand.
The deepest (earthen) type of fireplace is considered the safest. For the hearth, a recess is made in the ground, which is reinforced with stone or concrete. In this bowl, a fire is kindled. If you opted for this type, then you need to know that in this case there may not be enough oxygen for a good flame, moreover, such a fire must have shelter from precipitation.
Making a hearth in the country with your own hands according to the open principle is the easiest way, you won’t need special skills for this, and such a fire will look very beautiful. Most often, a paved circle of any diameter is made for this, in the middle of which a shallow hole is dug, which is also laid out with brick or stone. The diameter of the circle depends on your preferences, but it is not safe to make it less than 2 m. It is better to make the circle wide so that it not only serves as protection against the spread of fire, but also serves as a platform on which you can set a table or benches.
A closed fireplace can be completely diverse in shape. For its device, it is also necessary to pave a platform for fire safety, and a structure is already installed on it. Now the closed fireplace in the form of a Russian stove is gaining more and more popularity.
There are also portable hearths - you can easily put this option where you want to see it at the moment. At its core, this is a table and a fire bowl, if desired, it can be covered with tempered glass or an additional barbecue grill can be made. If you are a metal worker, such a fire pit will be a wonderful and stylish decoration for your summer cottage even without fire. The table can be laid out with decorative tiled mosaics, and the metal fireplace itself can be supplemented with beautiful forging.
Choosing a campfire site
In the question of how to make a fire pit on your own, you must approach the problem of its location with all responsibility. A place for a fire in the country is an important issue. After all, we are talking about an open fire, which means it should be removed from outbuildings, children's playgrounds and, in fact, the house itself. You also need to make sure that the sparks from the fire will not reach the trees or the fence (if it is wooden). So that the fireplace does not have to be cleaned of water all the time, do not choose lowlands or insufficiently well-drained places, however, it is better not to have a hearth on a hill.
How to do everything with your own hands?
It may seem surprising to you, but making a hearth in the country with your own hands is not as difficult as it seems. In addition, it can be made not just a place of warmth and comfort, but the main element in the recreation area. Around the hearth, you can install benches, a small table or a whole cafe with a tabletop for cutting meat, a wood storage and a large table for a friendly company.
Although there are now kits on sale that include a bowl and stones for decoration, it is more pleasant to sit around your own individual fire. Therefore, stones can be collected from a river or mountains, and a bowl can be made from an old leaky barrel, which is in every dacha.
After choosing a place, you need to decide on the size of the fire. To do this, place the bowl in the center and lay out the platform with stones. To outline the boundaries, you need to remove the last stones and draw arcs with paint, then remove all the stones and connect the arcs into a circle.
Where you have marked a place for the bowl, you need to dig a recess of about 15 cm. If you have dense soil in your country house, then in addition to a shovel you may need some other device: a chopper or even a hammer with a chisel, but do not give up - a hole need shallow.
When you have completed the hole, you will need to fill it with gravel so as to almost completely close the recess. This is a very important point - gravel is needed so that your fire does not flood during rain. This is a kind of drainage.
Now there are no problems with stones for landscape design in stores. If you decide to buy stones, then their choice depends only on your taste, imagination and wallet. However, keep in mind that the stones in color and texture should match the overall concept of your dacha. Stones will need to be laid out along the edge of the gravel. To make row 1 even, you can put the bowl, but then it will have to be removed. You can adjust the stones in height and make the distance between them minimal using a rubber mallet. Lay the 2nd row of stones so that the middle of the stone falls at the junction of 2 stones from 1st row. Lay out subsequent layers in the same way. In order for the stones to adhere to each other, you need to use a solution of clay or lime. Do not use cement, which is not suitable in this case - from the heat it will crack, and the stones will fall. After laying out the stones, place the bowl in the center.
Another option
Even easier is to make a portable hearth in the form of a barrel. Of course, it will be hard to wear it back and forth every day, but if you really need it, then you can. For a portable hearth, you will need a metal barrel and a circle. Put a piece of metal on the barrel and cut out an even circle, retreating from the barrel itself by 40-50 cm. In the center of this circle, you will need to cut 1 more circle, but it should be flush with the diameter of the barrel. Put the circle on the barrel, fix it and paint it with spray paint. Pour gravel inside the barrel, not reaching the edge of 40 cm. Everything, the fire pit is ready - you have a hearth framed by a small table on which you can put a cup of coffee. The barrel itself can be decorated under a tree (sheathed with boards and fastened with metal rings) or trimmed with pebbles.
Site design
In order to pave the area around the fire, various materials are suitable: tiles for paths, pebbles, gravel. But the most impressive look, of course, are irregularly shaped slabs, which are located in a chaotic or bizarre pattern. Choose wide plates - then it will be convenient for you to put garden furniture on them. The circular bench around the fireplace looks very nice and cozy. If desired, the back of the bench can be built from the same stone as the fireplace, but do not make it high - a maximum of 50 cm.
A firewood rack looks very nice and cozy next to the fire, besides it is very convenient. If you install a fireplace near the pool, then it will serve not only as a place for warmth and fried meat, but also as lighting, but do not forget that the ashes will fly in different directions, including into the water.
The symbol of the hearth in the country can rightfully be called a place for a fire. Recently, the hearth in the country has become not only a place where you can cook another gastronomic masterpiece and have a great free time with a pleasant featherless meal in the circle of family and friends, it is also an original element of landscape design.
Above-ground arrangement of a place for a fire in the country
Before setting up a campfire site, it is necessary to carefully consider the territory of its location. The hearth should be located away from garden trees, a country house and other outbuildings. The optimal distance to the house and buildings should be at least 3 meters, and at least 4 meters to the crowns of the nearest trees. Also, do not make out a place for a fire in a lowland or on a hill. It is better to choose the golden mean.
After the place for the dacha hearth is determined, the site should be prepared: remove debris, plant roots, level the surface of the site and outline a place for the hearth itself. As a rule, the hearth is made round in shape, with a diameter of about a meter. It is necessary to remove a layer of turf from the intended area. This is necessary so that later the entire site can be laid out with paving slabs or stone. In the center of the site, the location of the hearth itself is marked. To decorate the fire, you can use the iron rim. In the place where it is planned to install a metal rim, a small layer of soil is removed, the bottom of the resulting recess is leveled and the rim is installed.
If the structure has very thin walls, then it will not be able to provide the necessary strength during operation. Therefore, along the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe outer wall, concrete blocks or stones are laid out in several rows. Paving slabs or granite cobblestones are also suitable for this. For masonry, it is better to use a special masonry mortar. Clay mortar is more suitable for laying natural stone.
To prevent the campfire site from turning into a body of water after heavy rain, it is necessary to cut out the roof for it. A suitable piece of sheet metal can be used as a material.
Above-ground structure of the hearth 
deepened fireplace
You can also make a place for a fire in the country with the help of a small dug pit. The depth of the excavated pit should be approximately 30-40cm. The bottom of the dug pit is covered with a layer of fine gravel. In order for the hearth to last longer, the inside of the pit must be surrounded by a cut of sheet metal. The ring can also be built using separate blocks. The first layer of blocks is laid on gravel. The correctness of laying is checked by the building level. All irregularities are eliminated with a rubber mallet. A special glue is applied to the upper surface of the first row for laying hearths and fireplaces, then the second row of blocks can be laid. The finished structure is covered with fine gravel, and the upper part of the hearth is decorated with a stone suitable for landscape design decor.
Buried hearth fire 
Making a site near the hearth
In order to arrange a site near the hearth, you can use pebbles, gravel or tiles for garden paths. If you expand the territory near the hearth, you get an excellent platform for a good rest. An interesting option is flat slabs of irregular geometric shape, which are laid out in a fancy pattern. These wide slabs easily accommodate armchairs, benches, or other various garden furniture. An ideal option for arranging a campfire site in the country would be a circular bench with backs. To give such a platform comfort and coziness, the site can be decorated with rugs, and decorative pillows and rugs can be placed on the bench.
From the same material that was used in the decoration of the hearth, it is possible to make a supporting wall, it will also serve as a back for the bench. In order not to have to go far for firewood, a special woodshed is equipped next to the fire place, which is decorated in the same style with the hearth.
A garden path can be laid out to the fireplace, along which small street lamps can be installed. This will make the site cozy in the evening and create a special romantic atmosphere.
Often the site around the fire is made in the form of the sun, and improvised sun rays are drawn on the lining.
It will be interesting to look at the summer cottage in the hearth, made in the form of a lunar crater or a fireplace, next to which you can install a small figurine of a guardian cricket.
An interesting idea for decorating a campfire site in the country 
Making a place near the fire in the country is not so difficult. The main conditions in the work are the availability of all the necessary building materials, clear calculations, the availability of free time, imagination and a little creativity.
Hearth in the country: what will we sit on
Place by the fire: what will we sit on?
You have a place for a fire, but what's next? Stand and watch it burn? Whatever it is, you did it in order to cook barbecue, fry bread, bake potatoes and just relax in the evening, and sitting down to do this is clearly more convenient than standing up. How to arrange a place to sit around a fire and what can be used for this?
For starters, you can take any chairs that can be used on the street. It can be both simple camping chairs with which you go to the forest, as well as wooden or metal country outdoor furniture - the same chairs or large benches, on which it is so comfortable to sit together. Rattan seats are also suitable.
Simple chairs to sit near the fire on the site
If you are a fan of the classics, why not build a familiar pentagon out of logs, as is often done in the forest? But here it is already possible to sand the logs and even varnish them and even attach a back to make it more comfortable to sit.
Classic log pentagon around the hearth in the country
And a stationary option - you can make seats around the hearth in a summer cottage with your own hands from stone - from brick or any other stones that you have at your disposal. Tip: lay out the benches not in a square, but in a semicircle, as this looks more aesthetically pleasing. And to sit softly and not cold - put sofa cushions on the seat itself and attach it to the back, if you have it there.
Semicircular stone bench near the fire
Do-it-yourself hearth in a country house made of bricks
And finally, two ways to make a hearth in a summer cottage with your own hands. For starters, the most popular variant of a fire pit is made of bricks. What will we need? bricks and cement.
There are several ways to build a fire pit out of bricks. The first option - the way a house is built, that is, stacking bricks one to another, shifting each next row by half a brick - just lay out the walls of the fireplace of the desired height. Some build directly from the ground, some first dig a hole in the ground, as a result, the fireplace turns out to be sunk into the ground. In this case, it can be as level with the ground, then it is better to lay out an additional place with stones or tiles around at least a meter in diameter, or with the walls up - in this case, the coals will not fall down. But here it is worth providing holes for air intake in the fire.
We build a house for a fire of bricks
The second way is to lay bricks in a circle, setting them vertically or horizontally. If you want to make a low hearth, one row of bricks laid out in a circle with a vertical installation will be enough. If you want to make a large round hearth - you need to lay the bricks horizontally and do not forget about the holes through which air will access the fire - in this case it will burn much better.
Do-it-yourself hearth in a country house made of bricks
You can also show your imagination and fold some unusual hearth, not round or square, but absolutely not symmetrical in shape. And here you can use not only bricks, but also any other stones - best of all natural, unprocessed.
We make a non-standard place for a fire on the site
The hearth in the country under the cauldron
If you like to cook something in a cauldron on a fire, for example, real pilaf, stewed vegetables or meat, then before you start folding the hearth, you need to figure out how to put the cauldron on it later. The first option is to make a small hearth of stones, on which a large cauldron can be placed on top. If you need more space for a fire, make a metal structure that can be placed in a fire, and place a cauldron on top of it. Or you can make a hearth from an old car disk. How to do this - read below, and the cauldron will stand on top without any problems.
We make a hearth in the country under the barbecue 
Place for a fire: a brazier from an old automobile disk
If you don't want to stack bricks, you can use a simple and proven way to make a fire pit yourself, which I mentioned earlier - use an old car disk (stamping, not casting!). It is ideal for this - round shape, high walls, air intake holes and easy installation. You can either bury it in the ground, arranging a fire pit flush with the ground, or set it up and lay bricks on top to give it a more attractive look.
We make a hearth from a car disk
By the way, from the same disk you can make not only a hearth, but also a brazier - on steel legs, so that it is more convenient to follow the cooking kebabs, grill (adding a grill of the right size on top), barbecue and much more.
And if instead of a car disk in your garage or basement you find some other metal bowl or other container, you can also use it to make a hearth in your summer cottage. By the way, an old steel basin is also suitable for this - who else has these from Soviet times?
We make a hearth on a site from a metal bowl
Place for a fire: hearth in the country photo ideas
So, we figured out how to make a hearth with our own hands, what materials to use for this, how to equip the area around and what seats are suitable for such a holiday. Let's now look at the photo - how other people did it, in order to borrow some of their favorite ideas from there, which are already worth implementing on your own site.
The hearth is the personification of family comfort and warmth. Soaring flames and melodic crackling of logs fascinates and soothes, setting you up for relaxation and a pleasant rest. It is pleasant to gather around the fire in the evening, enjoying communication with family members and friends. To be able to enjoy the magic of an open fire on your site, you can equip a special recreation area, the key element of which will be a fire pit.
The outdoor hearth, which until recently performed only a utilitarian function, has now become a fairly popular element of landscape design.
The unusual design of the courtyard area with a hearth and the original forms of the fireplace itself can transform any area
The fireplace, which does not attract attention in the daytime, with the onset of twilight becomes a “zone of attraction” - the center around which the whole family gathers with pleasure. To make the rest even more comfortable and enjoyable, a platform with comfortable stationary seats and garden furniture is arranged around the fireplace.
The shape of the outdoor hearth can be any, suitable for the general style of the house. But in terms of ease of maintenance and access, most often the foci are given a round shape.
An excellent technique for creating a picturesque place with a fireplace in the courtyard of the house will be the original coating of the site itself
The area around the fire can be tiled, covered with gravel,. The choice of materials and design methods is determined only by the style of the site.
One of the most convenient and interesting ways of zoning a site is when the site with a fire is located lower in relation to the adjacent areas of the yard
It is not at all difficult to equip a cozy multi-level platform on the site. It is only necessary to remove the layer of soil and level the surface.
The recessed hearths, which are located below the level of the site itself around the fire, look no less impressive.
Recessed fire pits are suitable for any yard decorated in various styles. The only requirement for arranging a bonfire is not to deepen the hearth too much, since the natural combustion process can only be supported by an influx of fresh air. To ensure the necessary air circulation, firewood in a recessed hearth is stacked with a hut, leaving wide gaps between them and stepping back a sufficient distance from the walls.
We propose to consider a couple of options for arranging a fireplace, which, in addition to their direct functional significance, will act as a spectacular element of landscape design. A self-made outdoor hearth will become the pride of its owner and a favorite vacation spot for the whole family on cool evenings.
Methods for arranging a campfire
The outdoor hearth is essentially a hole dug in the ground or an above-ground structure lined with a wall of durable stones. Strong walls help retain heat, keep the shape of the fireplace and protect the hearth from being blown out by gusts of wind.
Option #1 - above ground structure
When planning to equip a fire pit on the site, the first thing to do is to choose a place. The hearth is located away from sprawling trees, outbuildings and the house itself.
The best option is when the fireplace is located at a distance of 4-5 meters from the crowns of trees and up to 3 meters from buildings
A small hill or, conversely, a flooded lowland is far from the best choice for placing a fireplace. There must be a middle ground. It is better if it is a flat area with good visibility.
Having decided on the location of the fireplace, we prepare the site: we clean it from the roots of plants and debris, level the surface and outline the place of the future hearth
Traditionally, a fireplace is given a rounded shape, for convenience, making it 90-100 cm in diameter. In our case, a metal rim was used to equip the structure.
To arrange a fire pit, remove a layer of turf from the marked area. In the future, the site can be tiled, filled or equipped as you wish.
According to the intended contour of the installation of the rim itself, we take out a ten-centimeter layer of soil. We level the bottom of the dug pit, install the rim.
Along the outer walls of the rim we lay out in several rows stones or concrete blocks, the wall thickness of which is not less than 10-15 centimeters
Too thin walls of the structure are not able to provide sufficient strength, and when a person leans on them, they may not withstand the load at all.
From a decorative point of view, it is better to use purchased concrete blocks that will simultaneously perform practical and aesthetic functions. On sale you can find both blocks of cast concrete and natural stone. Alternatively, paving slabs or even real granite cobblestone can be used.
In a good way, for the construction of a fireplace, it is necessary to use only masonry mortar with refractory additives. It is better to fasten natural stone at all using clay oven mortar. You can also lay out a solid structure using a special glue designed for laying fireplaces and hearths.
The voids and gaps formed between the metal rim and the facing material are filled with sand, earth or clay mortar
Backfilling will prevent further accumulation of rainwater and debris, thereby facilitating the care of the fireplace.
The fireplace is ready, it remains only to arrange seating places, stepping back 70-90 centimeters beyond the border of the protective strip, where flying sparks will not reach
So that the equipped outdoor hearth does not turn into a small reservoir after heavy rain, it is necessary to make a cover. It is not difficult to cut it out of a piece of sheet metal.
Option # 2 - a fire pit buried in the ground
For the arrangement of a stationary fire, another option can be used - digging a pit. At the site of the arrangement of the future hearth, we dig a hole with a depth of about 30-40 cm.
To drain storm water, we dig a shallow trench to arrange drainage under the walls of the structure being erected.
We cover the bottom of the pit and the trench with a gravel cushion of a fine fraction 15 cm thick.
Having laid the first row of blocks on the gravel bed, we check them for level and knock out the protruding elements with a rubber mallet
When we assemble a ring from separate blocks, it always becomes necessary to split individual elements. To do this, it is necessary to mark a line on the surface of the block, and then chip along the contour with a hammer and chisel. It is easy to give the desired shape to uneven edges by tapping them with a hammer shank.
We cover the upper edge of the first row with special glue for laying fireplaces and hearths, lay out the second row. We fill the erected structure with gravel
We decorate the upper edge of the structure with a suitable decorative stone, which we plant on cement mortar
By the same principle, we lay the subsequent rows. We place a sheet of metal along the inner walls of the fireplace. The voids between the inner ring and the blocks are filled with soil or sand.
Option # 3 - a budget hearth from an old barrel
Another option for arranging a street hearth:
Making a site around the hearth
Any materials are suitable for lining the surrounding area: gravel, pebbles, tiles for paths. But the most picturesque look are flat slabs of irregular shape, laid out on a lawn in a fancy pattern. It is convenient to place chairs and other garden furniture on wide flat slabs. A circular bench with backs is ideal for arranging a site around a fireplace.
For comfortable admiring the open flame, the bench can be supplemented with warm rugs and blankets, as well as colorful soft pillows.
A 50x40 cm built of the same stone can also be an appropriate addition to a fire pit. It will protect against gusts of wind and perform the function of a comfortable bench.
