How to Build an Outside Brick Barbecue

For those who enjoy grilling, having your own brick barbecue in the backyard is an ideal way to grill and entertain. Building your own barbecue is not as hard as it sounds, and may be done as a short weekend project. Adding a barbecue to the backyard is also an ideal way to enhance the look of your yard, and can make grilling year-round easy.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• 4 2-by-4s
• 10 rebar pieces
• Bricks
• Mortar mix
• Trowel
• Firebox
• Cooking grill
• Pencil
• Hose

Instructions

1. Dig a hole 4 feet wide and long, using a shovel. Dig down so the entire hole is 4 inches deep. Place each of the 2-by-4s along the inside of the hole to keep the dirt in place.

2. Mix concrete and water together according to the package directions, and pour into the hole. Cover the hole with approximately 3 inches of concrete, and then lay three pieces of rebar into the hole 1 foot apart for support. Cover the entire hole with another 4 inches of concrete and use a 2-by-4 to smooth out the surface. Allow to dry for 48 hours.

3. Lay out the bricks in a square shape onto the base, and use a pencil to mark the position before you begin to mortar. Make any adjustments as necessary to get the ideal size you want.

4. Hose down the bricks with water to add moisture to them. Dry bricks will draw moisture from the mortar, drying it out prematurely.

5. Mix the mortar according to the package directions. You can also mix one part cement with three parts masonry sand and water to create your own.

6. Add a layer of mortar to a brick with a trowel, and place the brick down onto the base with your pencil guideline to re-create the shape you wanted. Lay down the entire first row of bricks.

7. Add a ½-inch layer of mortar between each row of bricks as you move your way up the barbecue. Once you have three rows of bricks, use a level to make sure that the structure is even.

8. Install rebar into the layer once you reach the desired height of the barbecue to hold the firebox, which stores hot coals. You may want to add the rebar when it reaches 36 inches off the ground, for an ideal cooking height. Once your row of bricks reaches 36 inches, lay out three to four rebar pieces across the opening of the barbecue, and set the ends into the mortar between the bricks. Continue up two more rows of bricks to finish. Allow the barbecue to dry for at least 48 hours.

9. Slide the firebox with charcoal onto the rebar. Place the grill over the opening of the barbecue.

References

• Bob Vila: Building a Brick Barbeque
• Extreme How To: Fire Up the Brick Barbecue