How to Build a Log Burning Brick Barbecue Pit
Brick barbecue pits are a timeless fixture in the backyard, evoking feelings of lazy summers spent by the barbecue grilling tasty meals with family and friends. A brick barbecue pit that is suitable for use with wood logs is much simpler to construct for the home handyman than a propane barbecue pit. You can alter the basic design to suit your space requirements. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Shovel
- Level
- Concrete
- Wheelbarrow
- Metal rebar
- Standard bricks
- Chalk
- Mortar
- V-trowel
- Brick chisel
- Mallet
- Wire brush
- Metal coal plate, 22-by-34 inches
- Grill rack, 22-by-34 inches
- Logs
Instructions
-
-
1
Dig out a 6-inch-deep trough measuring 60 by 60 inches for the foundation. Use a level to ensure the bottom of the trough is flat.
-
2
Mix concrete in a wheelbarrow following the mixing instructions from the concrete packet. Pour the concrete into the foundation trough halfway, then place in five to six metal rebar rods and pour the concrete to the top of the trough. Leave to cure for two days.
-
-
3
Measure a foot in from the back of the foundation and lay four bricks end to end, on center. Abut three bricks on either end of the row of four, end to end as well. Chalk around the bricks for the outline of your barbecue pit. Remove the bricks.
-
4
Mix a batch of mortar in the wheelbarrow, following the instructions on the mortar packet. Lay a line of mortar 1/2-inch thick inside the chalk lines, around two bricks long. Use the tip of the V-trowel to make a furrow in the mortar, then place a brick into the mortar. Tap it down with the butt of the trowel.
-
5
Spread 1/2-inch thick of mortar on the end of another brick and set in into the line of mortar abutting the first brick. Tap the brick down and across, so the mortar end pressed up against the end of the first brick. Repeat with another line of mortar and end-buttered bricks until the first course of bricks is set in place.
-
6
Repeat with the next course of bricks, staggering the brick joints for strength. Use a brick chisel and mallet to cut half bricks to compensate for the staggered joints. Continue up nine courses.
-
7
Set two bricks in the side walls of the tenth course perpendicular to the wall, so they jut out into the center of the brick pit. Lay the rest of the course as usual. Lay another two courses, then on the thirteenth and final course, set two more bricks in each of the side walls jutting into the center. These bricks will be shelf brackets for the coal tray and grill rack.
-
8
Leave the barbecue pit to set for 2 hours. Use the tip of the trowel to clean up the mortar lines between bricks, scraping across them at a slight angle. Do a final clean up with a wire brush and leave for a week to cure.
-
9
Slide a coal plate onto the shelf supports on the tenth course and the grill rack over the shelf supports on the final course of bricks. Fill the bottom section of the pit -- between the 10th course and the foundation -- with logs ready for use. When using, build up a log fire on the coal plate, then when the fire is well set, place a couple of bricks across the coal plate at the front to protect the cook.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Add one to two bricks depth on one or both sides of the barbecue pit so you have room on either side for placing utensils.
Dry-lay the barbecue and cover the whole structure with 1/4-inch layer of surface bonding cement if you don't want to mortar the bricks together.
References
- Photo Credit Seiya Kawamoto/Digital Vision/Getty Images
