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Fire Pit and Grill Dean and Derek create an outdoor fire pit and grill — California style. Check out more of Dean and Derek's Rock Solid home improvement projects. From "Rock Solid" episode DROC-402

The completed fire pit, grill and flagstone surround

In this Rock Solid project, expert stone masons Derek Stearns and Dean Marsico create an outdoor fire pit and grill with a flagstone seating area. Using western stone and a laid-back attitude, they combine two concepts — a fire pit and grill — into one sleek modern design. So whether it's hanging by the fire or grilling lemon herb salmon, Dean and Derek guarantee a warm satisfied glow when this project is done.

Below is a summary of the steps as seen in this project, as well as some installation tips and a list of materials and tools used.

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Fire Pit, Grill and Seating Area

Materials:

ledge stone (Bouquet Canyon)
firebrick (Red Sandstock)
flagstone (High Desert)
concrete pre-mix
lime
rebar
mortar
1/2" P-gravel

Tools:

shovels
wheelbarrow
landscape marking paint
hoe
buckets
trowel
grinder with diamond blade
chisel
spade
chipping hammer
jointer
levels
broom
measuring tape
string
pencil
mask
safety glasses
small brush

Note: The quantities needed for each of these materials vary with application. For your specific project, Dean and Derek suggest taking the dimensions to a local dealer, where they will calculate the amount of each product needed.

Safety Alert: When mixing concrete, make sure to wear a safety mask to protect your lungs and prevent breathing of concrete dust.

Figure A

Preparing The Footing

• Before you begin digging your footing, select the location for the fire pit. For this project, Dean and Derek were working in small yard, so they chose to center the fire pit by finding the middle point between the fence and the brick landing.

• Use a hammer to drive a pole into the ground to mark the center of your fire pit.

• Dean and Derek wanted this fire pit to be five feet in diameter. To mark off the area, they measured 2-1/2 feet of string to use as a radius, anchored the string to the center point and used marking paint to create a five foot circle using the string as a radius (figure A). (If you were building a fire pit that is 6 feet in diameter then you would need to use 3 feet of string to draw your circle.) To determine the inside line of your circle reduce your measurement by 14 inches and use your marking paint to draw your interior line.

• Once your markings are complete, you're ready to start digging. Dig down eight inches between the inner and outer lines you made earlier. You must dig down before you build up so the walls of your fire pit will have a strong base that won't sink into the soil.

	Figure B
	Figure C

Pouring The Footing

• Mix your concrete with water until you have a thick consistency like peanut butter.

  Important: Make sure you are wearing your safety mask to protect your lungs from the dust.

• Once you have mixed the concrete, pour the mixture into the circular hole you created and use a trowel to smooth the surface (figure B).

• Use a grinder with a diamond blade to cut pieces of rebar to lengths of approximately three each. Bend the rebar and place it in your concrete, then use a hammer to get the rebar a few inches below the surface to strengthen your footing (figure C).

Figure D

Setting The Stone

• Before you begin setting your stone create a separate pile for your capstones. You will use them later.

• Tip: Capstones are the finishing stones that will form the top of your exterior wall. Be sure to save the stones with the flattest surface in your capstone pile.

• Mix your mortar, including one shovel-full of lime for increased strength. Add the lime dry. Once the lime is mixed well with the premix, then add water and continue mixing until you achieve a smooth consistency.

• Using your string tied to the center pole, measure out 32 inches to use as your guide when you are laying the perimeter stones. Use mortar to set the stones (figure D) in place and use your guide frequently to make sure the perimeter stones are placed at equal distance from the center point of your fire pit.

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