Okay, so I’ve always wanted a proper BBQ pit in my backyard. You know, the kind you see in movies, made of brick, where you can slow-cook a whole rack of ribs. Finally, I decided to just go for it. This is how I did it.
First things first, I gathered all the stuff I needed. And let me tell you, there was a lot. Bricks, obviously, a whole bunch of them. I opted for regular red clay bricks ’cause they look classic. Then, I got some mortar mix, sand, and gravel for the base. I also needed a few tools: a trowel, a level, a shovel, a string line, and a rubber mallet. Oh, and safety glasses and gloves, can’t forget those.
Next, I picked a spot in my backyard. It needed to be away from the house and any trees, for safety. Once I found the perfect spot, I marked out the area for the pit. I wanted a rectangular pit, so I used the string line and some stakes to create the outline. I think it was around 4 feet by 3 feet, but you can make yours any size you want.
With the outline ready, I started digging. I dug down about 6 inches to make a solid base. This part was tough, my back was killing me. After the digging, I filled the hole with a layer of gravel, then a layer of sand. I made sure to tamp it down real good with my feet and a hand tamper I borrowed from my neighbor, Joe. He’s a good guy.
Now for the fun part – laying the bricks! I mixed the mortar according to the instructions on the bag. It’s basically just adding water until it’s like peanut butter. I started at one corner, spreading a layer of mortar on the sand, and then placing the first brick. I tapped it down with the rubber mallet to set it in place.
- Spread mortar
- Place brick
- Tap with mallet
- Check with level
I kept repeating this, building up the walls row by row. I made sure to stagger the joints, like you see in brick walls, for strength. Every few rows, I used the level to make sure everything was straight and even. It was slow going, but kind of relaxing in a way, like a big, heavy puzzle.
I decided to leave some gaps between the bricks on the bottom row for airflow. This helps the fire breathe, you know? After I finished the walls, about 3 feet high. I made a small space for clean the ashes, I added a metal grate about halfway up. I just found an old one that fit, but you can buy them at hardware stores, too. This is where the charcoal and wood will go.
The last step was to let the mortar cure. This took a few days. I covered the pit with a tarp to protect it from the rain, just in case. And that was it! I had my brick BBQ pit.
The First BBQ
Once it was all dry, I couldn’t wait to try it out. I invited some friends over, got some charcoal and wood, and fired it up. It was amazing! The smoke, the smell, the taste of the food – it was all worth the effort. We cooked up some burgers, hot dogs, and even some veggies. Best BBQ ever.
Building a brick BBQ pit is definitely a project, but it’s totally doable. If I can do it, anyone can. Just take your time, follow the steps, and you’ll have your own awesome BBQ pit in no time.