Two birds, one stone. Actually, 45 cement blocks. Imgur user dalewithac was tired of looking at the broken basketball hoop on the consequently unused cement pad in his backyard; he also had 45 unused retaining wall blocks lying around, left behind by a previous homeowner. So he asked a buddy for an assist, and the two got to work.
The first step was to prepare the blocks. A hammer made it relatively easy to wedge them out of their current positions and knock off any stuck-on residue. Once the cobwebs and residue were hosed off, the decrepit-looking blocks looked like new!
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The men began stacking them into a round shape to build their firepit. They discovered that at four layers "it starts looking more like a well and less like a firepit," so they left it at three layers. When the inside was filled with gravel and a few bricks then topped off with a grill cover, the firepit was ready for use!
For the seating area, the men used cinder blocks and pressure-treated timber.
They took the additional step of using 1/2" pipe to secure the wood into place, using decorative caps for a nice touch.
With added cushions and throw pillows, the result is an outdoor man-cave to be proud of. This backyard will receive much more use now, especially with a crackling fire and mountain views to enjoy!
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Share this story with anyone who has unused space that needs attention!