I was told by a structural engineer that when they changed the way pt lumber was made due to toxicity concerns it greatly reduced its lifespan - his estimate was that it typically lasts 10 yrs before it weakens due to environmental conditions, and in areas like the northeast that have constant freeze thaw cycles and wet seasons he trusts it for about 8. If you want your structure to last a long time it may be wise to use on of the many kinds of post base connectors or brackets.

In the northeast we typically detail 12” of crushed stone, footing above, leave a couple inches exposed above grade or soil line min., and if possible taper the footing top to avoid water sitting against the post, doesn’t have to be too dramatic but just a soft pitch away.

Our frost line is 4’ so I’m guessing you’re something similar where you are.

Can you post a pic of the fire pit?

When I’ve designed fire pits before, I typically include a 3” tall x 6” wide air vent on the very bottom on two sides, I typically choose the least visible. This allows for proper airflow and drainage if there’s not any built into the pit.

Depending on construction you may be able to remove or cut a single stone out of its just the concrete paver style material. If there’s cmu and firebrick it may get a little tricky.

Also be careful bc sometimes materials can ‘pop’ under heat.

I don’t know what the hell youre talking about - I work in landscape architecture so I was trying to explain things based on knowledge I’ve accrued - was I writing to a woman or do I sound condescending in that manner? Bc that wasn’t my intent and I find your comment to be pretty random, it was simply a metaphor.

I thought the point of Reddit was sort of to share knowledge and have conversations, I particularly love when people share expertise. I’m not certain why what I wrote is mansplaining

Why’d you comment this on my comment when everyone above is literally typing out how aquifers work and how water tables function. Why’d you decide to comment that on mine.. I thought the water glass comment was a good metaphor for why an area can still be in drought despite getting a lot of rain.

Yeah I’m not certain why they’d say ninety nine percent - What I meant is that perhaps they’re just using it as an expression rather than scientific data.

The most recent I’ve seen show that something like seventy three percent is still in drought - these are most likely areas with poor perk rates and infiltration/water management.

I mean sure, the idea that it’s ninety nine percent on the dot seems a bit suspicious - it’s prob just a number being used to sound like ‘a lot’.

The last article I read on this topic about a month ago soar california has something like 60% of its expected water use met for this year.. which I’m guessing is what they’re trying to express, that despite all the rain it’s still not adequate for the states water use needs.

I believe it comes down to retention of water rather than amount of rainfall or snow pack.

If you have an empty glass and fill it with ten times the amount of water it can fit, which then spills over onto the floor - you don’t have ten glasses of water, you still have one glass of water and the rest is on the floor (or in the ocean). There are currently only about five reservoirs with additional recharge capability and two to three more under way - meaning despite the amount of rain a significant amount is lost and when summer arrives the water retained will be used up as it typically would.

I think you also have to considered how the water cycle works as well as the soils in California, in which a number of areas most likely just see the water run off into waterways to the ocean, used by farms and high water sources like golf courses.

May god have mercy on us all haha

Yep, it’s capitalism’s final form

What about combination Pizza Hut/Taco Bell’s?