Okay, here’s my blog post about building a DIY brick BBQ grill, written in a casual, first-person style, and with simple HTML formatting:
Man, I’ve always wanted a proper brick BBQ in my backyard. Those flimsy metal ones just don’t cut it. So, I finally decided to just build one myself! It was a bit of a project, but totally worth it. Here’s how I did it:
Planning and Prep
First, I sketched out a basic design. Nothing fancy, just a simple rectangular box with a grill space and an area below for the coals. Then I measured my backyard to make sure I had enough space and chose a good spot that wouldn’t be too close to anything flammable, the fence and stuff.
Next up, gathering the materials. I got:
- A bunch of bricks. I went for regular red bricks, looked it up and got the ones for outdoors use.
- Some bags of mortar mix.
- A metal grill grate that fit the size I wanted.
- Some sand and gravel for the foundation.
- Basic tools: trowel, level, shovel, bucket, measuring tape, some work gloves… that was about it!
Laying the Foundation
I dug a shallow pit, a bit bigger than the base of my BBQ. I filled it with a layer of gravel, then a layer of sand, and made sure it was all nice and level. This is important, you don’t want a wonky BBQ!
Building the Walls
Time for the bricks! I mixed up the mortar according to the instructions on the bag – not too runny, not too stiff. Then, I started laying the bricks, one row at a time. I used the trowel to spread the mortar on the bottom and sides of each brick, and checked the level regularly with my spirit level to make sure everything was straight.
I worked my way up, row by row, leaving spaces for the grill grate to sit on. Basically, I just left out a couple of bricks in one row, where the grate would rest. I did the same a bit lower down for where I am putting a metal tray for the charcoal.
The Finishing Touches
Once the walls were up to the height I wanted, I let the mortar dry for a few days. It said on the bag how long to leave it, but I think I gave it an extra day just to be sure. Then, I placed the grill grate in its spot, and that was pretty much it!
I’m so stoked with how it turned out! It’s solid, looks great, and it’s gonna be perfect for grilling season. First cook out, the burgers tasted extra good, I swear! It’s not perfect, my brickwork is a little rough in places but who cares, it works! If I can do it, you totally can too!
