Okay, here’s my blog post about making a brick grill, written from a personal, hands-on perspective:
So, I finally got around to building that brick grill I’ve been talking about. Been putting it off, you know how it is, but the weather’s been good, and I was itching for a project. Figured I’d share how it went, bumps and all.
Getting Started
First thing, I cleared out a spot in the yard. Leveled the ground the best that i can– didn’t want the whole thing tilting like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Then, I grabbed some bricks I’d had lying around. You can buy them new, of course, but I like the look of used ones, gives it some character, you know?
Laying the Foundation
I started by laying out the first layer of bricks, dry-fitting them to get the shape right. Basically, I made a big rectangle. Nothing fancy, just a basic box shape. I wanted to make sure there was enough room for the charcoal and a decent-sized grilling surface.
Building it Up
Once I was happy with the layout, I mixed up some mortar. This was the messy part. Got it all over my gloves, but hey, that’s part of the fun, right? I started laying the bricks, spreading the mortar on the bottom and sides of each brick, and tapping them into place with a trowel. I kept checking with a level to make sure things weren’t going wonky.
- Spread the mortar.
- Place the brick.
- Tap it into place.
- Check with the level.
- Repeat.
Slowly but surely, the walls started to rise. I left some gaps between the bricks on the bottom layer – these are for airflow, helps the charcoal burn better. Crucial step, don’t forget it!
The Grilling Surface
Once the walls were about waist-high, I needed to think about the grilling surface. I used some old metal grates I’d salvaged. Laid them across the top of the brick walls, making sure they were nice and secure. Might need to adjust these later, but they seemed to fit pretty well for now.
Finishing Touches
I let the mortar dry for a couple of days, just to be safe. Then, I fired up some charcoal and tested it out! Cooked some burgers and hot dogs, and they turned out great. The grill worked like a charm.
It is not perfect. It’s a little rough around the edges, and maybe I’ll add some more features later on, but for now, I’m pretty proud of my DIY brick grill. It’s solid, it works, and it’s going to be the centerpiece of many backyard barbecues to come.
And the most important is that all burgers are juicy and tasted very good!
