Okay, here’s my blog post about building a DIY brick barbecue, written from my personal experience and in a conversational tone:
So, I’ve always wanted a proper brick barbecue in my backyard. I mean, those flimsy metal ones are okay, but nothing beats the real deal, right? I finally decided to take the plunge and build one myself. Let me tell you, it was a project, but totally worth it!
Getting Started
First things first, I planned everything out. I sketched a rough design, nothing fancy, just a basic rectangular shape. I wanted it big enough to cook for a crowd, but not so huge it would take over the whole yard. I also checked local building codes – gotta make sure you’re allowed to build one and if there are any restrictions.
Next up, I gathered my materials. This was the heavy lifting part (literally!). I needed:
- A ton of bricks (I went with regular red ones)
- Cement and sand for the mortar
- Some rebar for reinforcement
- A fire grate (I got a sturdy cast iron one)
- Various tools: trowel, level, shovel, wheelbarrow, etc.
The Build
I started by digging a shallow foundation. I made sure it was level and compacted the soil really well. Then, I mixed up the mortar – this was a workout! It’s basically like making a giant batch of really thick, gritty cake batter. You want it to be stiff enough to hold the bricks, but not so dry it crumbles.
Then came the bricklaying. I laid the first course of bricks along the foundation, using the mortar to stick them together. I made sure to keep checking with my level to make sure everything was straight. This part was slow going at first, but I got into a rhythm after a while.
I continued laying bricks, course by course, building up the walls. I inserted some rebar vertically into the mortar every few courses to give the structure extra strength. When I got to the height where I wanted the cooking surface, I left spaces for the fire grate to sit on.
I built up the walls a few more courses above the grate to create a sort of chimney effect. This helps with the airflow and keeps the smoke going up and away.
The Bricks were all laid!
Finishing Up
After the mortar dried for a few days (this took some patience!), I cleaned up any excess mortar and gave the whole thing a good scrub. It is important to make sure the mortar is cured.
Finally, I fired it up! I built a small test fire to make sure everything was drawing properly, and it worked like a charm! The first cookout was a huge success – burgers, hot dogs, the works. Everyone loved it!
It wasn’t the easiest project I’ve ever done, but it was definitely one of the most rewarding. There’s something really satisfying about cooking on something you built with your own two hands. Plus, it looks pretty darn impressive in the backyard! If you’re thinking about building your own, I say go for it! Just be prepared for some hard work, and you’ll have an awesome barbecue that’ll last for years.
