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Summertime is the best time to entertain — the weather is perfect, so you can relax by the pool and barbecue, or wait until the sun goes down and light up the fire pit to chill with a beer in hand. The possibilities are endless, as long as you have an excellent outdoor area where you can entertain your friends and family.
If you don’t have a patio or fire pit in your backyard, this summer is the perfect time to start building one. Here are four steps to help you get started.
Have a Plan
You don’t want to start building anything without a plan, and that includes a patio. Look at your backyard and figure out the best place to put your patio and fire pit. For the patio, you’ll want somewhere that’s easily accessible from the back of your house. Meanwhile, you’ll want the fire pit far enough away from your home that a stray spark won’t send it up in flames.
Design your fire pit and patio on paper or in a computer design program and figure out all the materials that you’re going to need. Now is an appropriate time to decide what kind of patio you want to build — for example, do you want an elevated wooden deck or a stone patio on the ground that leads up to your fire pit?
Start Building
Once you have a plan in mind and your materials on-hand, it’s time to start building. Pick a weekend and let yourself take your time with the build — a well-built patio can add quite a bit of value to your home. Stake out your build and start from the ground up.
Start by laying out your foundation. It doesn’t matter if you choose wood, concrete or paving stones – you’ll still need a good foundation before you start building up.
Building your backyard fire pit is simple – all you need is some concrete paving stones and a place to build. Layer the bottom of the hole with sands to contain the heat, and you’re done.
Keep the Sun in Mind
We all love to spend time in the summer sun, but standing out in the sun while you’re barbequing or socializing can get a bit warm.
If you’re setting up a permanent patio, consider building some permanent structures to keep the sun off your head. A DIY Tiki hut or other similar structure can help make your backyard paradise a little bit more comfortable.
Decorate and Entertain
Once your patio and fire pit is done, all that’s left is to decorate. Lights, plants, and decoration add a little bit of ambiance to an already comfortable patio and can let you enjoy your new construction project well after the sun goes down.
When it’s time to light the pit, the wood you choose can make a huge difference. You don’t want to just throw on any random twigs you find in your yard or cut up that old Christmas tree that’s been sitting in your brush pile for 6 months. For summer fires, you’re going to want Cherry wood. Cherry produces a lot less smoke and burns with less heat, so your guests can get close enough to enjoy it. Plus, the scent of the cherry wood can take your night from good to great.
Now that it’s perfect, the last thing to do is start inviting people over and throwing some awesome summer parties. Fill up your coolers with cold drinks, break out the grill and spend some time with your friends. The fact that you built this area with your own two hands will make your celebrations that much better.
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Photo provided by the author.