Okay, so I’ve always wanted a proper grill in my backyard. Not one of those flimsy metal things, but a real, solid brick grill. Something that says, “I take my BBQ seriously.” So, this weekend, I finally did it. I built my own brick grill, and let me tell you, it was a project, but totally worth it.
Getting Started
First things first, I gathered my materials. This was the most time-consuming part, to be honest. I needed:
- Bricks (obviously!). I went with regular red clay bricks.
- Mortar mix. You can get this pre-mixed, which is what I did because, well, I’m lazy.
- A trowel. For spreading the mortar.
- A level. Super important to make sure everything is, you know, level.
- Some gravel. For the foundation.
- Metal grill grates. I picked these up at a hardware store.
- A shovel, and a wheelbarrow if get one.
I also sketched out a rough plan. Nothing fancy, just a basic rectangular shape with a firebox and a grilling area. I’m no architect, so I kept it simple.
Building the Foundation
Next, I dug out a shallow pit where I wanted the grill to be. It was maybe 6 inches deep and a bit bigger than the base of my planned grill. I filled this with gravel and tamped it down really well. This gives the grill a solid, level base to sit on.
Laying the Bricks
This is where the real work began. I mixed the mortar according to the instructions on the bag. It’s basically like making cement, but a bit thicker. Then, I started laying the first layer of bricks on top of the gravel base.
I spread a layer of mortar on the gravel, then placed the first brick. I used the level to make sure it was straight, both horizontally and vertically. Then, I added more mortar and placed the next brick, and so on. It’s like building with giant, heavy LEGOs.
I kept building up the walls, layer by layer, making sure to stagger the bricks for strength. Think of it like a brick wall in a house – the joints shouldn’t line up perfectly, or it’ll be weak.
Creating the Firebox and Grill Area
As I built up the walls, I left a space at the bottom for the firebox. This is where the charcoal goes. Above that, I left another space for the grill grates to sit on. I actually laid a few bricks sideways across the opening to create a ledge for the grates to rest on.
Finishing Up
Once the walls were the height I wanted, I let the mortar dry for a couple of days. This is important – you don’t want the whole thing collapsing when you light the first fire!
After it was dry, I placed the grill grates on the ledges I’d created. And that was it! My very own brick grill.
It’s not perfect, mind you. Some of the bricks aren’t perfectly level, and the mortar is a bit messy in places. But it’s solid, it works, and I built it myself. And that first burger I cooked on it? Best burger ever. So good, and had a speical taste!
