The Brew Cabin

Hi all, this is my first post here so go easy on me! :-)

I'm about to build a slightly raised, 300mm or so, patio in our back garden. My other (better) half has seen somewhere one with a firepit incororated in it - sounds like an Ideal Home exhibition or Chealsea Flower Show kind of thing to me. Anyway, she wants one in the patio.

My thinking is to incorporate a 600x600 galvanised pavior manhole cover and frame into the patio to cover up the pit when not needed. That way it can blend in with the overall slab pattern. Do I need to incorporate some drain facility into the pit underneath, or do these covers give a decent seal?

I'm intending to construct about a 300mm deep well underneath, and to make this from blue bricks for heat resistance.

Add a fire grate for the coals or logs and away we go!

Does anyone have any thoughts on how I could approach this any better, or even have any experience of such a feature?

Hi,

the recessed covers do allow some water to penetrate between the frame and the cover, unless you splash out extra bobs to buy one of the double-sealed units that are normally used on internal applications. Therefore, if you use a standard tray and cover, you'll need to make some allowance for drainage of your fire pit.

I've no experience with fire pits. I know they are popular in America, because I keep getting emails from there asking about them, but I've never educated myself about their possibilities within the patios of these soggy islands as I assumed we had far more sense. I know that intense heat and concrete/porous stone are not a good mix, so I think some for of refractory or heat-resistant lining would need to be used, but, as I said, I've never really considered them to be a worthwhile feature, so haven't any real advice to pass on.

Tony - thnks for your views.

I'l check out the availability and costs of sealed vs. unsealed covers and take it from there on drianage of the pit.

I'll let you all know how it turns out, completion is expected in mid-August, and whether it all works fine or if we end up cracking (or worse :shocked: ) any of the lining materials when exposed to heat.

I thought I'd give an update on how things are going.

The fire pit is now built. I've used engineering brick for both bottom and sides. The bottom is a concrete bed, then bricks laid on their sides and mortared in (sort of a wall laid horizontally rather than vertical). I've built in a drain at one corner (with base sloped slightly toward it) using 100mm ceramic pipe - that was the smallest diameter I could get. The drain runs out under the rest of the patio and ends up coming out above ground level hidden under a deck. We have about a 1:10 sloping site, so this was easy enough to arrange. The whole thing is topped off with a 600x600 recessed paver tray. I get the feeling this is going to be bloody heavy to lift off when filled, so I'm getting 4 lifting keys to apply maximum amount of hands to the job! :)

The pit itself is around 650x650, and about 350mm deep from the rim with the cover removed. Should be plenty of space to get a decent grate in there and a good blaze going.

Next step is filling in the rest of the patio base between raised edge walling with bedding layer. I'm not looking forward to barrowing about 3 tonnes of sub base round the house, but it's got to be done. Finally, compact it and lay the slabs on a screeded bed.

I'll post some pictures soon. I've just ordered a digital camera and Amazon have shipped it today. Seems like a good topic to try out the new toy on.

By the way, thanks for all the advice on the site. I keep on looking up the next step as I move forward, and there is always useful and clear information to help.

3 tonnes of sub-base? That's nowt! You can get that shifted in less than an hour if you shape yerself, Jon! ;)

I look forward to the pictures from your new toy! :)