Okay, so I’ve been wanting to upgrade my grilling game for a while now. My old setup was, well, let’s just say it was “rustic.” I decided to build a new grilling area using bricks, specifically for a more permanent and, frankly, better-looking solution. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty handy, so I figured, why not?
Getting Started
First things first, I planned. I sketched out a rough idea of what I wanted. Nothing fancy, just a simple rectangular structure to house the grill. I Measured my grill to make sure I’d have enough space and then some and Marked the area, grabbed a shovel, and got all the grass and stuff out, and made sure it was mostly level.
Laying the Foundation (Literally)
Then made sure the ground was level by added some gravel, that’s mean I Dug, leveled, and then added gravel. This part was kind of a pain, but it’s super important for stability. You don’t want your grill wobbling, and the gravel made things flat and solid for setting the bricks on top.
- Digging: Cleared the area.
- Leveling: Made sure the ground was flat.
Brick by Brick
Then and started laying the bricks. I used regular old bricks, and some mortar mix from the store. Now, I’m not gonna lie, I watched a couple of videos on how to lay bricks beforehand. My first few rows were, um, “learning experiences.” But I got the hang of it. The key is to keep checking that things are level and use enough mortar, but not too much. Just be patient, and check the level to make sure everything’s even.
- Mortar Mixing: Followed the instructions on the bag (duh!).
- Laying: Started at the corners, worked my way in.
- Leveling: Checked constantly with a level. This is KEY.
Building Up
I built up the walls layer by layer, making sure to stagger the joints (like they show in the videos). This makes the whole thing stronger. I also left some gaps at the bottom for airflow – gotta have that for the fire, right? It took a while, but seeing it come together was pretty cool.
Finishing Touches
Once the walls were up to the height I wanted,I cleaned up the excess mortar. Oh, and I put a layer of firebricks on the bottom where the actual coals would be. Those things can handle the heat better than regular bricks.
The Result
It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty proud of it! It’s way sturdier than my old setup, and it actually looks like a proper grill area now. I’ve already used it a few times, and the food tastes… well, the same, but it feels fancier. Plus, I can say I built it myself. Can’t beat that!
