Have you thought about airflow and drainage? A solid gravel base is definitely key, like mentioned above, but I've seen fire pits struggle even with a good base if water can't drain properly. You might want to consider leaving small gaps between some bricks to help water escape and keep moisture from building up inside. Also, what kind of bricks did you use—regular clay or fire-rated ones? Regular bricks can crack or degrade over time from the heat, especially if you're burning hot fires frequently.
A few years back, I built one with standard bricks (rookie mistake, I admit...) and ended up replacing half of them after just two seasons. Switched to fire bricks and haven't had an issue since. Also, double-checking local codes never hurts—sometimes there are specific rules about distance from buildings or property lines. Did you already look into that?
Sounds like you've really thought this through, especially the drainage part—I hadn't even considered that until my fire pit turned into a mini pond after a storm last summer. Your brick suggestion is spot on too; learned that the hard way myself. I went with regular bricks at first thinking I'd save a few bucks, but after a season of hot fires, they started to crumble and crack...not exactly the safest thing.
Switching to fire-rated bricks was worth every penny, and honestly, they're not as expensive as I expected. Did you find a good deal somewhere? Anyway, you're definitely on the right track checking local codes. Had a friend who built his pit too close to his fence and had to tear the whole thing down—total bummer.
But overall, sounds like you're being pretty thorough and cautious, which is great. Better safe than sorry, right? Has your new pit held up well so far with the weather lately?
You're definitely ahead of most people by thinking about drainage and fire-rated bricks from the get-go. I've seen way too many DIY fire pits turn into soggy messes or cracked hazards after just one season. Good call on checking local codes too—it's surprising how many folks skip that step and end up regretting it later.
One thing I'd add, though, is to consider airflow as well. A friend of mine built a beautiful pit, did everything right with drainage and bricks, but didn't leave enough gaps for air circulation. Fires were always smoky and hard to keep going. He ended up having to redo part of it, which was a pain. So, if you haven't already, maybe double-check your design for proper airflow.
Also, since you're clearly being thorough, have you thought about the environmental impact? I know, I know...sounds preachy, but hear me out. Burning seasoned hardwood instead of treated or painted wood makes a huge difference in reducing harmful emissions. Plus, it burns cleaner and hotter anyway, so it's a win-win. And if you're really into sustainability, you could even look into smokeless fire pit designs—they're pretty impressive and way less polluting.
As for durability, sounds like you've got a solid setup. Fire-rated bricks are definitely worth the investment. I was skeptical at first too, thinking it was just marketing hype, but after seeing regular bricks crumble firsthand, I'm convinced. Mine have held up great through some pretty harsh winters and heavy rains.
Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track overall. It's refreshing to see someone actually doing their homework before diving into a project like this. Hope your pit holds up well through the next storm—fingers crossed!
Good points about airflow—I learned that the hard way too. Built a fire pit at my sister's place, thought we nailed it...but every fire was smoky as heck. Ended up drilling extra holes later, which helped a ton. Curious if anyone's tried those smokeless designs mentioned earlier?
I messed around with one of those smokeless designs last summer at a friend's cabin. Honestly, I was skeptical at first—seemed like marketing hype—but it actually worked pretty well. Way less smoke, and we didn't have to keep shifting seats every five minutes, haha. Still, I'm curious how durable they are long-term...especially if you're using them regularly. Anyone had one for more than a season or two?
