With cooler nights there’s nothing more magical than sitting around an open fire and enjoying time with friends and family.
But to have a fire outdoors you either need to buy or make your own fire pit, or buy a chiminea. With a little know-how, elbow grease and some planning you can create your own outdoor sanctuary in which you can sit around the glow of a fire.
Installing or building a fire pit is a great way to renovate the area in your backyard where no grass will grow. If the space exceeds the minimum distance your council requires you to be from a fence when lighting a fire then you can easily convert the area.
Plan out how much space you want to have - do you want seating made of timber or stone that is built into the main structure or will you add a weatherproof outdoor setting?
An even foundation will make for easier paving and for entertaining, as you won’t want to feel like you are tipping to one side.
There are plenty of DIY fire pit kits on hardware store shelves if you are not confident of building your own from scratch or consider calling in a home handyman if the project is small. Always follow instructions, make sure it is well sealed and your usage abides by council regulations.
What and when you burn will always impact your neighbours, so only burn dried wood and always check if washing is gone from the line next door.
Landscape the area with some beautiful paving or stones, add some seating of larger weathered stones, slabs of slate or recycled logs for a more rustic theme, and you have the basics for an inviting outdoor space that will keep you warm through winter.
Simply add friends, family and toast some marshmallows.
Tips for choosing pavers
Pavers come in a variety of sizes, colours and textures to suit any style of home and garden. With an overwhelming choice, Boral offers some tips to help homeowners combine practicality and design to achieve a look they’ll love for years to come:
- Establish a clear idea of the garden’s overall look, as paving can form the foundation of a landscape’s theme. This can vary greatly, from a beach-inspired design to a contemporary European feel.
- Consider the practical requirements of the space. For example, poolside pavers should be salt resistant and non-slip, while driveway pavers must be able to withstand weight and heavy traffic.
- When selecting a colour, always look at pavers outside in the natural light.
- If the paved area is close to indoor areas, choose pavers that are a similar colour to internal floors to ensure consistency from the inside out.
- Select neutral coloured, large pavers to open up small spaces. Laying pavers in a stretcher bond pattern across the width of a path will make it appear more substantial.
- Measure the area to be paved and work out how many pavers will be required. Boral has a handy calculator to help with this, which can be accessed at ww.boral.com.au/pavingcalc. A retailer or landscaper can also advise on quantity.
