Stone Firepit + Patio – Concord, MA

The owners of this home in Concord, MA are doing some work on their property and are looking to add a field stone firepit and seating area as well.   A firepit is a great addition to any yard, letting you enjoy the outdoors after the sun has gone down or the weather turns cold.

Stone Firepit – Design

The firepit will be made from local fieldstone outside, with firebrick on the inside.  Firebrick is a special type of brick that is resistant to heat.  The brick will take all the heat from the fire and protect the stone which could crack or pop loose if heated too much.  The firebrick adds a step but ensures a long lasting installation. 

The patio surrounding the firepit will be made from bluestone flagging.  It will be fit fairly tight and form a rough circle around the firepit.  About 5′ or 6′ feet of space from the firepit to the edge of the patio provides enough room for Adirondack chairs which are a popular outdoor seating option.  Together the fieldstone and the bluestone flagging will provide a very natural, authentic look.

We lay out the design with some ground paint and get started on the prep work.

Stone Firepit – Installation

First we excavate and prep the base, and refine the placement of the patio and firepit.  Using intersecting lines we find the center and work out from there.

The bluestone flagging comes on a pallet with large irregular slabs of bluestone.  It is an attractive stone that varies in color and thickness and shape.  It needs to be cut and shaped to fit, and leveled one by one.  The process is labor intensive but is a unique look that can’t be beat.

 

We mark a circle by running a line from a stake at the center point and then build up the firebrick.  We will use two rows of firebrick stood on end, and give it a 2.5′ inside diameter with a finish height of 1.5′.  

Once the firebrick is in, we build the fieldstone the outside, and then install the surrounding patio.  The bluestone is cut and shaped so that they fit together with roughly 3/4″ – 1″ joints.  The result is an attractive feature for the yard and an inviting seating area for entertaining friends or relaxing nights.