Fire Pit Designs
This is a concept drawing only. This drawing incorporates the use of a safety screen, firewood grate and a gas fire starter. I made the fire brick go all the way up to the top of the fire pit. I had the coping butt up against the fire brick and not overhang the fire brick. I have a small recess between the coping and the fire brick of about a 1/4". This lip is to keep the screen from sliding much and small enough so the doors open allowing clearance. The screen will sit on the fire brick - not the coping. The screen will rust a little and when it rains the water will pick up the oxidation color and may stain. If the screen is on the coping this may stain the coping. IF it's on the fire brick it will stain the fire brick and you won't see it.
THe other reason I suggest that the fire brick go all the way up to the top of the fire pit is that there is a fire in this pit. Laugh, but most people seem to forget exactly what's going on here. This isn't a flower bed. It's a PIT that your going to build a fire in and chances are these fires could be of a descent size. Concrete or mortar and fire or heat do not work well together. Concrete pops and explodes when it gets hit with high heat. So why have Rock Coping that is adhered to the surface with mortar- over hang a fire pit by a couple of inches? Heat rises. This puts the overhang in the direct path of the rising heat. It's going to get hot. The mortar will fail and could pop and explode. Even if the coping doesn't over hang the edge and it's just to the edge of the inside of the fire pit. It's still going to get hot. This design is still better then an overhang but having fire brick go all the way up the inside of the fire pit is in my opinion the best design.
Your going to need a firewood grate, You have to get the fire off of the bottom of the fire pit. The fire is easier to see and and enjoy. You should have some sort of drain. If you don't you just built a small pool. You might want to put rock on the botton to cover the drain and protect it from the heat. Remember this drawing is not to be used as is and we assume no liabilty for it's use. Please consult with your contractor.
