In The Good Old Summertime...Building And Enjoying Your Own BBQ Pit

The benefits of building a brick barbecue aredetermine the size of your barbecue. Remember to
multifold, with thick juicy steaks, roasted corn andleave 1/2 inch between each brick for mortar
baked beans being some of the first that cross myjoints.Step 4. Lay the foundationLay out and area
mind. A brick barbecue can accent your patiolarge enough to accommodate your project. Dig a
beautifully, and the brick design blends well with anycontinuous trench, 12" wide x 10" deep, along the
garden setting. Not only does it look great, but it canperimeter of the area, leaving a mound in the center.
give any ordinary food a delicious flavor. Once youRemove 4" of soil from the top o the mound and
build one, you'll wonder how you ever got throughround over the edges. Set a 2x4 around the site so
the summers without one. This article describes thethe top is 2" above the ground along the back and 1
basic construction.Building Your Barbeque GrillTools1/2" above the ground on th front. this slope will help
and Materials You Need:Tapeshed water. Reinforce the footing with metal mesh
measureHammerBrickset chiselMason'sand five pieces of rebar cut to size. Use a line level
stringShovelAviation snipsReciprocating sawLineto ensure the forms are level from side to side. Roll
levelMasonry hoeWheelbarrowTrowelJointingthe mesh into 6" diameter cylinders and cut them to
toolGarden stakes2x4 lumberBricks18-guage metalfit into the trench. Leave a 4" gap on each side of
mesh#4 rebarType N mortarCooking grillsAshthe cylinder and the trench walls. Tie the rebar to the
panHelpful Hint - Before you start using the mortarmesh to hold it in place. Coat the forms with
try doing a dry build, or simply practice running yourvegetable oil and pour the form. Let the foundation
lays and courses. You could even build the entirecure for one week.Step 5. Lay the first course of
barbeque first to see how it looks then go back andbricks:Remove the bricks and use a pointed trowel to
do it using the mortar. Yes, it's more time involvedapply mortar to the concrete base, but do not go
but once you start putting things together with thebeyond the chalk lines. Lay the first layer of bricks
mortar it's permanent. This way you can experimentfollowing the diagram for the first course. Apply
with different styles.Step 1. Buy themortar to the sides of each brick before you lay it
materialsPurchase the barbecue grills, fire grates andand butt the bricks up against each other.Step 6. Lay
ashtrays at your hardware store before you beginthe remaining courses:The rest of the courses
building. These items will determine how large thealternate in pattern. The even numbered courses
barbecue will be, so you must have them ahead offollow one pattern while the odd numbered courses
time. Decide how many bricks you need once youfollow another pattern. Alternate the patterns until
determine the size of the grill. Purchase your bricks atyou have the desired number of courses. Use a level
your local brickyard. If your not sure how manyto make sure that each course is even, and use a
bricks you'll need it's a good idea to take a drawingbuilder's square to ensure that the corners come to a
showing accurate dimensions with you to make yourperfect 90 degree angle. On each odd numbered
purchase. There you should find knowledgeablecourse, set z-shaped metal ties in the mortar and
people to help you determine the amount of bricksdistribute them evenly. Place the z-shaped ties in
you'll need. Keep in mind the average barbecue is 13different spots on each course.Step 7.Lay the top
rows high.Step 2. Pick a spot to build thecourse:For the top course, the inner row is laid with
barbeque:You will need a level spot for yourits narrow side facing out as a stretcher, and the
barbecue. Consider which way the wind usually blows,outer row is laid with its short side facing out as a
and position the barbecue so that the smoke blowsheader. Once the mortar is dry, you can attach a
away from the cook and the dining area. A good ideacutting board to the side of the barbecue with fluted
is to keep it a good distnce from the house as youmasonry nails if you wish. lay you grills across the top
want to keep potential hot ashes from causingand you're in business.There you have it. With a little
problems. If you do not have a concrete or brickluck and skill you should end up with a grill you can be
patio, you will need to lay a small concrete base forproud of, and that will last for yearsChuck Lunsford is
your barbecue.Step 3. Determine the dimensions ofa successful Webmaster and publisher of He provides
you barbeque:Outline how large your barbecue will betips and advice on finding the do-it-yourself bbq plans
with a chalk line on the base concrete slab. Withoutonline.
mortar, lay two courses (or layers) of brick to help