Okay, folks, let’s talk about my latest backyard project: building a brick barbecue pit. I’ve always wanted a proper place to grill and smoke, and those flimsy metal grills just weren’t cutting it anymore. So, I rolled up my sleeves and decided to build something that would last.
First things first, I picked a spot. You want it far enough from the house so smoke doesn’t become a problem, but also close enough that you’re not trekking across the entire yard with plates of food. I measured out the area I wanted, marking it with some spray paint.
Next up, digging! I dug out the area about 6 inches deep. This was going to be the foundation for my pit. Honestly, the digging was the worst part. My back was killing me after this.
Then, I poured a concrete base. I mixed up some bags of concrete mix – just followed the instructions on the bag, nothing fancy – and poured it into the hole. I used a level to make sure it was, well, level. You don’t want a wonky barbecue pit!
After the concrete dried (I gave it a couple of days to be sure), it was time for the fun part: laying the bricks! I started with the bottom layer, using mortar to stick them together. The mortar is like brick glue, just mix the powder with water, and be sure it has a nice consistency.
- Apply mortar to a brick.
- Stick the brick to the base or to other bricks.
- Use a trowel to remove the excess mortar.
I kept adding layers, making sure to stagger the bricks like you see on a regular brick wall. This makes the whole thing stronger. I used a level constantly to check that my walls were straight and even. It’s slow going, but you don’t want to rush it.
Building Up the Walls
As I built up the walls, I left a space at the bottom for an ash pit – a place to collect the ashes from the charcoal. I also left some gaps between the bricks in a couple of places to let air in. Fire needs air, right?
For the top, I used some firebricks because they can handle higher temperatures. I also added a metal grate to hold the charcoal. You can find these at most hardware stores. I just laid it across the top of the pit, making sure it was nice and secure.
Finally, I let the whole thing cure for a few days. The mortar needs time to set properly. Then, I built a small fire to test it out. And, boom! My very own brick barbecue pit. It’s not perfect, a little rough around the edges, but it’s mine, and it works great!
The first thing I cooked on it? Burgers, of course. And let me tell you, they tasted amazing. There’s just something about cooking over real fire that you can’t beat. Now all the family want to come and visit me to enjoy it!
