Okay, so I’ve always wanted a proper BBQ setup in my backyard, but those fancy built-in ones? Way too expensive. I stumbled upon this “simple brick BBQ” idea online, and I figured, why not? I’m pretty handy, and it looked… well, simple.
First, I cleared a spot in the yard. It was mostly grass and weeds, so I just dug out a rough rectangle, maybe a foot deep. I wasn’t too precise about it, just wanted a level base.
Getting the Materials
Next, I headed to the local hardware store. I grabbed a bunch of regular old bricks – nothing fancy, just the cheapest ones they had. I also picked up some sand and cement for the mortar. And, of course, I got a metal grill grate. I think that was the most “specialized” part of the whole thing.
Building the Base
Back home, I mixed up the sand and cement with some water. It was a bit messy, and honestly, I probably didn’t get the consistency perfect. But hey, it’s a BBQ, not a rocket ship.
I dumped the cement mixture in to the hole as a base, and then I started laying the bricks. I did a simple square design that have 3 closed sides and one open side. The first layer was the trickiest, making sure it was somewhat level. After that, it was just stacking them up, slapping on some mortar between each brick. I didn’t use any tools to check if it’s straight or not. Just my eyes.
- Step 1: Dig a hole.
- Step 2: Buy a bunch of bricks, cement, sand, and a grill grate.
- Step 3: Mix cement and sand.
- Step 4: Lay the bricks, adding mortar between them.
The Grill Grate
Once I got to the height I wanted (about waist-high), I left spaces for the grill grate to sit on. It was not perfect, but, it’s solid enough. I just slid the grate in, and it fit! Well, mostly. It wobbled a bit, but a few extra dabs of mortar fixed that.
Letting It Dry
Then came the waiting. I left it alone for a couple of days to let the mortar dry completely. It was tough, because I was itching to try it out.
First BBQ!
Finally, the big day arrived. I loaded it up with charcoal, lit it up, and… success! It worked! The bricks held up fine, the heat was good, and the burgers tasted amazing.
It’s not the prettiest BBQ in the world, and it’s definitely got some imperfections. But you know what? I built it myself, and it works. And that’s pretty darn satisfying.
