Budget-friendly sunken firepit

AnnaH1

🖼️

The project:

My goal was to create a budget-friendly firepit in my sloping front yard.

I sourced everything I needed from my local Bunnings (except the roadbase).

- Materials:

Large Gabion https://www.bunnings.com.au/jack-80-x-40-x-40cm-rectangle-landscaper-s-plant-support-garden-gabion_p0054572

Small Gabion https://www.bunnings.com.au/jack-65-x-30-x-15cm-landscaper-s-plant-support-garden-gabion_p0054573

Geotextile fabric https://www.bunnings.com.au/pillar-1-8-x-10m-grey-geotextile-drainage-membrane-mat_p0126613

Ag-pipe https://www.bunnings.com.au/reln-65mm-x-1m-slotted-ag-pipe-complete-with-joiner_p0210905

Drainage gravel https://www.bunnings.com.au/ki-carma-20kg-10-20mm-drainage-gravel_p3460052

Spotted gum decking 135mm https://www.bunnings.com.au/135-x-19mm-pre-oiled-spotted-gum-kd-decking-linear-metre_p0546636

Spotted gum decking 86mm https://www.bunnings.com.au/86-x-19mm-pre-oiled-spotted-gum-kd-decking-linear-metre_p0546635

Deck screws https://www.bunnings.com.au/zenith-easy-fix-decking-screw-t20-10g-x-50mm-ss304-50-pack_p0663415

Decorative river stones - large

Recycled bricks

- Tools:

Shovel

Wheelbarrow https://www.bunnings.com.au/sherlock-80l-home-use-poly-tray-wheelbarrow_p3360549

• https://www.bunnings.com.au/trojan-205mm-tamper_p0057896

Hammer drill and impact driver https://www.bunnings.com.au/makita-18v-brushless-2-piece-combo-kit-dlx2283sm_p0090871

Drop saw https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-184mm-mitre-saw-r18ms184-0-tool-only_p0135634

- Step 1:

Firstly, I used a shovel and wheelbarrow to excavate the area for the firepit.

I made use of the spare soil to backfill a retaining wall that I was building elsewhere in the garden:

- Step 2:

Next I filled the firepit area with roadbase, and used a hand tamper to compact it.

I levelled the roadbase to have a slight fall from back to front.

Then I positioned the gabion cages near the back of the pit, leaving room for an Ag-pipe and drainage gravel behind. I lined the back of the gabions with geotextile fabric to prevent soil washing through the cages.

For cost-efficiency, I mostly filled the gabions with bricks that I'd reclaimed from elsewhere in my garden. I just left a small gap at the front for a veneer of decorative stones.

- Step 3:

For a nicer appearance I added a layer of 'Sunset' roadbase on top of the standard roadbase.

Then I used large River Stones to fill the front of the gabions.

- Step 4:

Finally, for the seating I used spotted gum decking (3 rows of 135mm on the large gabions, and 2 rows of 86mm on the small gabions).

For the finishing touch, I relocated some agapanthus plants to fill the gap of bare soil at the top.

Lushumm

Wow this looks sick, how many weekends did it take you?