Can You Build A Fire Pit With Concrete Blocks?
Can You Build A Fire Pit With Concrete Blocks?
Yes, you can build a fire pit with concrete blocks. Concrete blocks are inexpensive, lightweight, simple to construct, and resistant to high heat. This makes them ideal for constructing a fire pit. Concrete blocks, on the other hand, are not fireproof. They are fireproof. Combine them with heat-resistant paint and/or refractory mortar to increase heat resistance even more.
Because they can sustain high heat, concrete blocks make excellent fire pits. However, they are not completely fireproof.
This indicates that the fire should not be placed immediately on top of the block. The pit walls should be made of blocks, but the fire should be built on earth, stones, or fire bricks.
Mortar is used at the joints to hold concrete and cinder blocks together. Standard mortar or cement can only withstand temperatures ranging from 600°F to 700°F. It then becomes brittle and prone to cracking.
The blocks will grow hotter as they go closer to the fire. If your blocks are close enough to the fire to reach temperatures of 600°F-700°F, utilize hydraulic refractory mortar. It can withstand temperatures of up to 2000°F.
Is It Possible To Paint A Cinder Block Fire Pit?
Yes, you can make your new cinder block fire pit stand out by painting it a bright color. We’re not going to pretend that painting cinder block is easy, but it is feasible if you follow the appropriate steps. This is how to paint a cinder block fire pit:
- Thoroughly clean the cinder blocks. And by clean, we mean it. Wire brush for mildew, a bleach for mildew, trisodium phosphate for efflorescence… true deep cleaning After cleaning, carefully rinse the blocks and allow them to dry.
- Are there any large cracks or holes? Fill up the gaps with siliconized acrylic caulk.
- Fill up the gaps with latex block filler. The porous blocks will simply absorb the paint if this coat is not applied.
- Next, apply latex primer and allow it to dry completely.
- Finally, there is the paint itself. If you want it to last, choose a high-quality exterior acrylic latex masonry paint. Check it once it has dried to see if it needs another coat.
How Much Do Concrete Cinder Blocks Cost?
Cinder block walls are a popular way to add privacy, security, and structural stability to a property. The cost to build a cinder block wall varies depending on a few factors, such as the size of the wall, the quality of the materials, and the level of expertise of the contractor.
On average, cinder block walls cost about $10 to $30 per square foot for the materials, like blocks and mortar, plus professional installation. The materials cost about $3 to $6 per square foot. A professionally installed 8-by-15-foot cinder block wall may cost $1,200 to $3,600, while a DIY wall may cost around $360 to $720.
There are several factors that can affect the total cost of installing a cinder block wall. The quality of the materials is one factor; higher-quality materials will cost more. The expertise of the contractor is another factor; a contractor with a lot of experience installing cinder block walls will charge more than a contractor who is new to the trade.
The size of the wall is also a factor; a bigger wall will cost more to build than a smaller wall. And finally, the location of the wall can also affect the cost; a wall that needs to be earthquake-proof, for example, will cost more to build than a wall that doesn’t need to be reinforced.
Despite the variations, on average, cinder block walls cost between $10 and $30 per square foot to install.