Alright, folks, gather ’round! Today, I’m gonna share my latest project – building a barbecue brick grill. Yeah, you heard that right, a good old-fashioned brick grill. So, let’s jump right in.
First things first, I gathered all the materials. I headed to the local home improvement store and picked up a bunch of bricks – the regular red kind, nothing fancy. Also grabbed some bags of mortar mix, sand, and some gravel for the foundation. Oh, and can’t forget the tools – trowel, level, measuring tape, the whole nine yards.
Laying the Foundation
Next up, digging! I marked out the area where the grill was going to sit and started digging a shallow pit, about 6 inches deep. Then, I filled it with a layer of gravel and tamped it down real good to make a solid base. After that, I mixed up a batch of concrete and poured it over the gravel, making sure it was nice and level. That was gonna be the foundation of my grill.
Building the Walls
Once the foundation was set – and I gave it a good day to dry – I started on the walls. I mixed the mortar according to the instructions on the bag, and let me tell you, it’s all about getting the right consistency. Too watery, it won’t hold; too thick, it’s a pain to work with.
I laid the first course of bricks, making sure each one was level and aligned. I used that trowel to apply a good dollop of mortar on each brick and tapped them into place. It’s kind of therapeutic, you know? Brick by brick, the walls started to rise. I decided to go for a simple U-shape design, with the opening facing the best spot for catching the evening sun.
- Keep checking the level: Seriously, can’t stress this enough. A wonky grill is no good.
- Stagger the joints: This makes the structure stronger. I lined up the middle of each brick with the joint of the bricks below it.
- Take breaks: Mixing mortar and laying bricks is hard work, especially under the sun.
Finishing Touches
After the walls reached a decent height – about waist-high for easy grilling – I topped them off with a row of bricks laid sideways to create a nice edge. I also embedded some metal supports into the mortar while it was still wet to hold the grill grates later on.
Then came the waiting game. I let the whole thing cure for a few days, giving the mortar time to harden properly. It was tempting to fire it up right away, but patience is key, my friends.
The First Cookout
Finally, the day arrived! I placed the grill grates on the supports, loaded up some charcoal, and fired it up. The first cookout was a success! Burgers, hot dogs, some veggies – everything tasted amazing with that smoky flavor you only get from a real charcoal grill.
So, there you have it. My brick grill adventure. It was a lot of work, but totally worth it. There’s something special about cooking on something you built with your own two hands. If you’re thinking about doing it yourself, I say go for it! Just be prepared to get your hands dirty and have a ton of fun in the process.
Feel free to ask any questions if you have in your mind. Catch you all in my next blog!
Cheers!