This summer, keep your fun local by building a fire pit in your backyard. With a custom fire pit, you will not have to head to a campground in order to roast some marshmallows and enjoy a nice drink next to the fire with your friends.

1: Always Get Approval Before Building a Fire Pit

When it comes to building a fire pit, you first need to make sure you have the right approvals in place before you start the building process. That means getting approval either from your municipality's planning office or if you live in a homeowner's association, to get approval from them. You may not need approval at all, depending on where you live. However, it really is better to check and get the proper permission before you go through the process of installing and investing in a fire pit.

2: Consider the Height of the Fire Pit

Next, you need to consider how night you want your fire pit to be. In some areas, the height of your fire pit will be determined by local building rules. Think about how you want to sit around the fire pit. Do you want to sit in lawn chairs? Most lawn chairs are about a foot and half high, so you want a fire pit at least that high.

When considering the height of the fire pit, also consider that you can bury your fire pit in the ground and build up around the fire pit to create a deep, safe structure.

3: Think About How the Wind Blows

When considering where you want to put your fire pit, you also need to consider how the wind blows through your backyard. Sit out in your backyard and track the way that the wind blows.

You don't want to put your fire pit directly in the path that wind tends to take through your yard. You also want your fire pit to be at least ten to fifteen feet away from other structures that could potentially catch fire so any embers that are carried by the wind will not impact the structure.

4: Consider How You Want to Fuel Your Fire Pit

Finally, consider how you want to fuel your fire pit. Yes, you can burn wood in your fire pit. However, burning wood is not your only option. You can also use natural gas, propane, or ethanol to fuel your fire pit.

With a gas fire pit, you will get the heat and the flames without having to constantly source wood for your fire pit, and you will not have to deal with ashes. If you decide to go with a gas-fueled fire pit, you need to make sure you purchase the right set-up to allow for a gas fuel source.

When it comes to installing a fire pit in your backyard, always get approval before starting the building process. Consider burying your fire pit in the ground and building up the walls to a nice height so you can feel the heat when sitting around your fireplace. Consider how the wind blows and where various structures are located. Also, consider a gas-powered fire pit instead of a wood-burning fire pit; its less mess and less work to take care of.