Man, I’ve always wanted a brick barbecue in my backyard. I mean, who doesn’t love the smell of grilled food on a summer evening? Plus, I figured it would be a cool project to tackle. So, I finally decided to take the plunge and build one myself. It was a real doozy, let me tell you.
First off, I had to figure out where to put this thing. I spent a good chunk of time just pacing around my yard, measuring, and visualizing. Once I picked a spot, I started sketching out some designs. I’m no artist, but I managed to draw something that resembled a barbecue. After that came the tricky part: calculating how many bricks I needed. Math was never my strong suit, but I powered through it.
Then came the shopping. I drove to the local hardware store and loaded up my truck with bricks. And let me tell you, those things are heavy! I opted for regular bricks for the outside because they were cheaper, but I got firebricks for the inside where the heat would be. Afterward, I got some concrete and wood for the base. With all the supplies in tow, I headed home, ready to start building.
The first step was building the base. Mixing concrete is a workout, I’ll give it that. I built a wooden frame, poured the concrete in, and waited. It felt like forever, but finally, it was solid enough to start laying bricks.
Laying bricks is an art, I realized. I started with the outer walls, using a level to make sure everything was straight. I messed up a few times, had to knock some bricks loose and redo them, but eventually, I got the hang of it. I built the walls up, leaving space for the grill, and lined the firebox with those firebricks. Each brick I put had to be solid, each layer of the wall had to be flat.
Once the main structure was done, I added the finishing touches. I installed a metal grill that I picked up from the store, and I even added a little side table made of bricks. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine.
Finally, the moment of truth. I built a fire, threw some burgers on the grill, and waited. The smell of cooking meat filled the air, and I felt a sense of accomplishment. The burgers were delicious, and I knew all the hard work was worth it.
Building a brick barbecue wasn’t easy. It was tough, dirty work, and it took me longer than I expected. But now, every time I fire it up, I get a sense of pride. This bad boy is gonna last me a long time and many delicious meals. And who knows, maybe I’ll add a smoker next. The possibilities are endless when you’re willing to get your hands dirty and build something yourself.
- Planned: Picked a spot, sketched a design, calculated materials.
- Shopped: Bought bricks, concrete, and a grill.
- Built the base: Mixed and poured concrete into a wooden form.
- Laid bricks: Built up the walls, making sure they were level.
- Added firebricks: Lined the inside with heat-resistant bricks.
- Finished: Installed the grill and added a side table.
- Cooked: Enjoyed the first of many barbecues!
