Building Your Own Barbecue

Many people really like bbqs.
Staying outdoors while in the fine weather, cooking over a flames, discussing the day with family and friends - what’s not to enjoy?

And also the great news is, it takes just a couple of hours to build yourself a fantastic bbq that can be
fired up year in year out, giving you a focal point for your entertaining.

A trip to a DIY Store offers you all of the items you’re going to need.

Put aside a day (or two if you want to level a piece of your garden), and get to work.

Any time you’re stoking up the coals and the burgers are on the grill, the work will all appear beneficial!

What You’ll Need
Bricks, sand, cement
Barbecue grill set
Spirit level
Shovel and trowel
Plank of wood
Masking Tape

Best places to Site Your Barbecue

Look for a flat area away from your house, outbuildings, trees, as well as other structures.

Barbecue smoke may drift in through open windows so try to position so this won’t be a issue.

Don’t overlook other people - they might not appreciate your bbq smoke billowing through their own fencing
hence think about the breeze and also which position might be best as a measure to minimize this.

Build on a Flat Surface
The simplest way to ensure of a flat area is always to construct your bbq on a currently level patio or back
yard location.

If you want to site it on grass, you’ll have to dig it out, fill it with stones and then cover the hole by
using or concrete.

Use your spirit level to guarantee it is completely level.

When it isn’t, use a layer of the concrete to even it out.

How big a Bbq?

How big your bbq will really depend on the size of the particular barbeque grill you select.

After you’ve acquired your grill, place it on the flat location you’re going to site the barbecue on.

Place a single layer of your bricks around the barbeque grill - setting up a U-shape around three edges and
leaving the front clear.

Mark the outside as well as the inside edge of the bricks with masking tape.

This will be your guideline when laying the actual stones and mortar.

Take away the layer of bricks and put them back with the rest.

Getting Started

Blend the sand and cement according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Spread evenly the first level of mortar on the ground using the masking tape as your guideline.

Position the bricks on the mortar, leaving ½ inch gap in between each brick for additional mortar.

Check the level just as before and make sure that the corners are at right angles.

The Height of the Barbecue

Since you’re the one who’s likely to be doing the barbecuing, use your height to evaluate how high the
barbecue ought to be.

Arrange for the grill/grate supports to generally be about waist height - that’ll prevent bending too much as
you bbq.

Layer the Stones

Place the bricks, beginning on the corners.

Stagger the second layer - this can be done through cutting and using half bricks at the ends and full bricks
in the centre.

After you’ve laid four or five courses of bricks - staggered each time lay a length of wood across from one
section to the other and use spirit level to check they are continue to be level to each other.

Then use the spirit level vertically to confirm that the sides are upright.

Any variance in height should be leveled out using mortar.

Continue adding the stones and mortar until you’ve done six or seven courses or near your waist height.

On the left-hand and right-hand sides of the wall structure as you face the barbecue, move the stones
sideways so that they make a support for the grilling holder, jutting out from the remaining wall.

Measure the width of the barbeque grill once again to ensure that it’s likely to fit.
lay an additional three rows and turn the bricks sideways once more - on this occasion so that they will
support the grill tray.

Add two more layers of bricks and mortar and you’re done!

Finishing Touches

Go around the walls of the barbecue, taking off the rugged mortar edges.

This can be done as you go along using a short length of hosepipe and dragging it along each of the horizontal
and vertical joints.

If you possess the. space, bricks and inclination, you can extend the brickwork out to the left or right of
the barbecue to make a table top, using a paving slab as the work surface.

When you’ve built your bbq, dust off any brick dirt with a soft bristled brush or paintbrush.

Do this carefully and thoroughly

You’ll need to leave the barbecue not less than three days just before using it as the mortar needs this
amount of time to set and dry.

Once you’ve waited three days, you’re ready to go, so phone your friends and family, head to the grocery store and prepare to savor the fantastic outdoors with your recently constructed barbecue.

Bon appetite!