Patio and Fire Pit

15 years ago

I originally posted this in the landscaping forum, but never got a response, so I thought I would post the progress pics here instead.

As a spring project I put in about 105' of foundation bed/planting (75 trees/bushes), June 1st at breakfast I decided start my summer project.

I am putting in a 16' diameter flagstone patio and a raised 4' fire pit with a sitting wall. In about 4 hours I got a 1/3 of it excavated, with a shovel and wheelbarrow. I knew this project was coming and you can see by the way I planted that dogwood I was accommodating the soil.

dug by hand...

This weekend I started on the raised wall...

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Comments (20)

rosebush
15 years ago
Great job! Cute little helper, too. :)
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
I made a bit more progress this weekend...

{{gwi:287519}}
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Calamity_J
15 years ago
Good job! It's great that you let your DAD help you!lol! I have to remember that my shirt should match my shovel color!!! hee hee! Actually tho, I'm drooling over this!!!!
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
{{gwi:287520}}

I am getting very close now. The only thing left is cap on the fire pit and I have not decided what I want to do...

1) Rough mortered stone
2) Cut flag stone
3) Cut contrasting stone (blue stone)
4) Stained concrete

Any thoughts?
friesfan1
15 years ago
Wow Ron,
What a nice job. I have always wanted a fire pit.
Did you finish with the cap stones yet? Can we see
the finished project?

Mary
z 5b KS
maggie_berry
15 years ago
This patio and Fire Pit is a work of art.
I know you wish that people would respond but my goodness it is fantastic!

I would like to see a finished picture also!
Will you have to put up a " fence" so people don't step off the patio?
Are the stones dry stacked by you?
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
The fire pit has not changes since the last photo. I have been trying to decide what I want to do for a cap and today I think I decided on 2" blue stone cap (done by a pro).

To get it to the point you see here I have done nearly everything. I had 10 hours of help from one of my wifes co-workers sons digging the hole and moving/compacting 5 of the 6+ yards of ABC and help from another friend unloading 1 pick-up full of stone screenings. I did the rest solo.

I travel every week for work so it has been slow going but I am happy. Now I get to start the planting beds.
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
BTW thanks for the compliments.
imatallun
15 years ago
What a beautiful and unique spot you created, Ron. You and your family will have many wonderful evenings when the weather cools down. In my mind, nothing tops an evening spent with good friends and family around a nice fire. Way to go!
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
http://ronlarimer.com/TEMP/DSC05436.jpg

I broke down and paid for the finish work, but this is the completed fire pit.
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
{{gwi:62891}}

Sorry I forgot that I needed the HTML
terps02
15 years ago
What are the light colored bricks/blocks inside of the firepit? Some type of fire block?
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
Yep, the inside is lined with fire bricks and high temp mortar
kristina925m
15 years ago
My husband and I are thinking doing a similar patio and firepit. May I ask what the materials cost you? Also, how many hours did it take to complete the project?

It's gorgeous!
ronlarimer_zone7
Original Author
15 years ago
Hmmm never thought about that way...

$48 - 48 fire bricks @ $1
$60 - 1 bag high temp mortar (didn't use it all)
$975 - 2 ton of big flag stone, 1 ton of thin cut
$210 - 7 yrds ABC/screenings Could have used much less if I wouldn't have dug so deep
$30 - Mortar (complete guess)
$8 - Topsoil for future creeping thyme planting
$140 - Material Delivery

Call it $1500 and maybe 80-100 hrs?
nornster
14 years ago
How did the bluestone cap work out? Have you had any trouble with the high temperature of the fire cracking the bluestone?
ttfweb
14 years ago
Great job.
Good to get the kid out there - that's what being a dad's all about.
schoolhouse_gw
14 years ago
I just now saw this older thread, and your fire pit is gorgeous too. What a lot of work!
Pat z6 MI
14 years ago
Just gorgeous, ron, and very generous of you to share your creation. My spouse is in for a big surprise when he sees THIS post!!! Thank you so much.
dminorfmajor84_yahoo_com
13 years ago
That looks really good man. I love the finished product. How did you stain the rocks to make them look older and worn? My wife and I are buying a house and I would love to do something similar to this around the back yard.

Also, with your permission, I would like to add these pictures to my website, FirePitDesignsOnline.com. Let me know and I will create a new page just for progress pictures like yours. Actual progress pics are hard to come by...

Here is a link that might be useful: Fire Pit Designs

Patio and Fire Pit

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rosebush

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