Fire Pit + Retaining Wall on a Slope: Timelapse
0:00 Intro
0:30 Mark & Break Ground
1:28 Dig the Trench
4:58 Retaining Wall Base Layer
5:49 Complete Retaining Wall / Excavation
9:00 More Excavation
9:41 Even More Excavation + Survey
11:15 Seating Area Prep
12:30 More Prep + Fire Pit Construction
16:10 Read My Books!
16:27 Pea Gravel + Pavers
18:53 First fire
I built this fire pit area in a sloped area of my back yard in three weeks working mainly on weekends. I had never attempted a DIY project of this scope and thought it might take two or three months.
The entire project was done by hand with no help from motorized equipment (except a chainsaw to cut down overhanging tree branches).
This is a timelapse of the entire project with some voice over and music by me.
If you’re interested in my books, visit: https://richardcox.net
To help prepare for this project, I watched these great videos:
From @Fixthisbuildthat :
• Building Your Perfect Fire Pit on a Budget
• Solo Stove Hates Me For Showing You This!
From @urbanfarmstead :
• How to Build a DIY Patio and Fire Pit Seat...
From @heypete1827 :
• I MADE A FIELD STONE FIRE PIT AMPHITHEATER...
From @WelcometotheWoodsBlog :
• How to Build a Small Retaining Wall in One...
From @StayHandy :
• How to Build a Retaining Wall (Step-by-Step)
Most materials and equipment were purchased at Home Depot, but there were a couple of Amazon items as well.
Limestone concrete retaining wall block:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/4-in-x-11...
Rumblestone for fire pit:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pavestone...
Brick for fire pit:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Oldcastle...
Paver base:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pavestone...
Paver sand:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/0-5-cu-ft...
Gravel for backfill:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-0-...
Construction adhesive:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-P...
Angle finder:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Dig...
Large level:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Stanley-2...
Deadblow hammer:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-45-...
Spikes
https://www.homedepot.com/p/15-in-Pla... (mine were actually 10 in.)
Line level:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-3-...
Rake:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-60...
Twine:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Empire-25...
Wheelbarrow:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/GORILLA-C...
Smokeless fire pit ring:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D1DJNT9D?...
Shovel:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG258BY4?...
Tamper:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BNHLQZJW?...
Landscape fabric:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQR6852X?...