Well, let me tell you, my grandkids always sayin’ “Grandma, we want some of that good ol’ BBQ!” So, I says, alright, I’m gonna build us one of them brick barbeques. Ain’t nothin’ better than cookin’ outside, ya know? This old gal’s gonna show ya how to build a DIY brick barbeque. It ain’t as hard as it looks, I promise.
Gettin’ Started on Your DIY Brick Barbeque
First thing’s first, you gotta get your stuff together. You need them bricks, of course. ‘Bout a hundred or so, maybe more if you want it big. And some of that… that cement stuff to stick ’em together. Mortar, they call it. Yeah, you gonna need a good bit of that mortar.
- Bricks, lots of ’em!
- Mortar mix, the sticky stuff.
- A trowel, to spread that mortar.
- Level, to make sure it ain’t crooked.
- Some kinda grill grates, for the food.
- A tray to hold them hot coals.
I got my bricks from that fella down the road, he had a whole pile of ’em. You might find some at one of them home improvement stores, too. Make sure they ain’t cracked or nothin’. I reckon any type of brick will do for this DIY project, but firebrick is the best. It can handle the heat real good. Firebrick holds heat, like my old oven.
Layin’ Them Bricks
Now, you gotta find a good spot for your brick BBQ. Somewhere flat, not too close to the house. Don’t want no fires startin’, ya know? Once you find your spot, you gotta mark it out. I used some string and sticks. Just make a rectangle, big enough for your grill grates. Then, you mix up that mortar. It’s like makin’ biscuits, but messier. You add water to that powder, stir it up real good. Get it nice and thick, not too runny.
Then you start layin’ them bricks. Put some mortar on the bottom, plop a brick on top. Tap it down with your trowel. Make sure it’s level! Use that level thingy. Then you do another one, right next to it. Keep goin’ ’til you got a whole row. Then you start another row on top of that one. But you gotta stagger ’em, like them steps on old Mr. Johnson’s porch. Don’t put one brick right on top of another, or it’ll be weak. We want this DIY brick barbeque strong!
Makin’ It Fancy
You can make it as tall as you like. I made mine ’bout waist high. Easier on my back, ya know. And I left some spaces in the bricks, down low. For air. Gotta let that fire breathe. You can leave an opening in the front to put your coals in. Some folks make a little door. Up to you. This is your DIY brick barbeque, you do what ya like.
When you get it high enough, you gotta put somethin’ in there to hold up the grill grates. I used some metal rods. Just stuck ’em right into the mortar, between the bricks. Make sure they’re good and sturdy. You can even make two levels if you wanna. One for cookin’, one for keepin’ food warm.
The Top Part of Your DIY Brick Barbeque
Now, for the top, I just laid some more bricks around the edge. Made it look kinda nice. You can get fancy with it if you want. Some folks use them flat stones. Makes a nice little shelf for your plates and such. This part is where you can really make your brick barbeque your own. Get creative with it!
Once you got all your bricks laid, you gotta let it dry. Takes a few days. Don’t be rushin’ it. Let that mortar set up real good. I know waitin’ is hard, but you don’t want your DIY brick barbeque fallin’ apart on ya. Patience is key, like waitin’ for them tomatoes to ripen in the garden.
Cookin’ on Your Brick Barbeque
Once it’s all dry, you can finally use it! Get some charcoal, put it in that tray. Light it up. Let it burn down ’til it’s all ashy. Then you put your grill grates on top. And you’re ready to cook! This DIY brick barbeque is gonna be the talk of the town, I tell ya.
I cooked up some burgers and hot dogs the other day. Tasted mighty fine. Nothin’ like that smoky flavor you get from a real fire. And I made some of that potato salad, the kind with the mustard and the pickles. Oh, it was a feast! Everyone loved that brick BBQ.
Keepin’ it Clean
Now, you gotta keep your brick barbeque clean. After you cook, let it cool down. Then you gotta scrape out them ashes. And brush off them grill grates. Keep it tidy, and it’ll last ya a long time. You might need to patch up the mortar every now and then, too. Just like patchin’ a hole in your favorite quilt. This DIY project will need some care, but it is worth it.
Well, there ya have it. How to build a DIY brick barbeque. It ain’t hard, just takes a little time and elbow grease. And you’ll have a place to cook up some mighty fine food for your family and friends. They will love it! They gonna be askin’ for your BBQ all the time. And you can say, “I built that with my own two hands!” And they will be impressed, I guarantee it. This old gal knows a thing or two ’bout buildin’ things. So get out there and build yourself a brick barbeque! You won’t regret it, that’s for sure.
