Okay, let’s get our hands dirty and build a brick BBQ pit! I’ve always wanted a permanent grilling station in my backyard, so I finally decided to tackle this project. Here’s how it went down:
Planning and Prep
First, I sketched out a simple design. Nothing fancy, just a rectangular pit. I measured my backyard to figure out the best spot – gotta have enough space around it for safety, you know? Then, I checked local building codes. Some areas have rules about fire pits and stuff, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Next up was gathering materials. I headed to the home improvement store and grabbed:
- Bricks (lots of ’em!) – I chose regular red clay bricks.
- Mortar mix – this is the “glue” that holds the bricks together.
- A few concrete blocks for the base.
- Sand and gravel for drainage.
- A metal grate for the cooking surface. I also use steel rebar
- Some basic tools: a shovel, trowel, level, measuring tape, and a rubber mallet.
Building the Base
I started by digging a shallow pit, a bit bigger than the BBQ’s footprint. Then, I dumped in a layer of gravel, followed by a layer of sand. This helps with drainage, so water doesn’t pool up under the pit. I tamped it all down real good to make it nice and compact.
Next, I laid down the concrete blocks to form a solid base. I made sure they were level – this is super important, or your whole BBQ will be wonky!
Laying the Bricks
Now for the fun part! I mixed up the mortar according to the instructions on the bag. It should be like thick peanut butter, not too runny, not too stiff.
I started laying the first course (that’s what they call a row of bricks) on top of the concrete blocks. I spread a layer of mortar on the blocks, then pressed the first brick into place. I used the trowel to “butter” the end of the next brick with mortar before setting it next to the first one. Keep the joints (the spaces between the bricks) about ½ inch thick.
I kept going like this, row by row, checking the level frequently. A wonky brick early on will mess up the whole thing, so I took my time. I also used the rubber mallet to tap the bricks into place gently.
As I built up the walls, When I reached my desired height, about 3/4 of the way I put in steel rebars, I made sure to stagger the joints – that means the vertical joints in one row shouldn’t line up with the joints in the row below. This makes the structure stronger.
Finishing Touches
Once the mortar was dry (this took a couple of days), I placed the metal grate on top. And that’s it! My very own brick BBQ pit.
The first cookout was awesome! Burgers, hot dogs, the whole nine yards. It felt great to cook on something I built with my own two hands. It’s not perfect, a few bricks are a little crooked, but it’s mine, and it works great!
