Okay, so, I’ve always wanted a nice spot in my backyard for grilling. Store-bought grills are okay, but they just don’t have that, you know, charm. Plus, they rust out faster than a leaky bucket in a rainstorm. I decided to build a brick barbecue grill. A real, solid, last-forever kind of grill. And let me tell you, it was a project. But a fun one!
First off, I sketched out what I wanted. Nothing fancy, just a simple rectangular design. I’m no artist, so it looked more like a kid’s drawing, but hey, it worked. I figured about 100 bricks would do the trick, maybe a few more just in case I messed up. I also grabbed a grilling set with a charcoal tray and a couple of grill grates. It is a must.
Now, for the bricks. You can use regular bricks, but I went with firebricks for the inside because they can handle some serious heat. Those things are tough. I started laying the foundation, a simple concrete slab. Let me tell you, mixing concrete is a workout. My arms were burning, but I got it done.
Once the foundation was set – and I mean set, like, give it a good couple of days to cure – I started stacking bricks. I learned real quick that laying bricks is an art. You gotta use mortar to stick ’em together, and that stuff gets messy. I had more mortar on me than on the bricks at first. But I got the hang of it. I decided to build a support inside for the charcoal tray. It is like building a small room in it.
- Step 1: Slap some mortar on the brick.
- Step 2: Stick it to the other bricks.
- Step 3: Try not to make a huge mess.
- Step 4: Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Slowly but surely, the grill started taking shape. It wasn’t perfect, a little wobbly in places, but I called it “rustic.” Yeah, that’s it, rustic charm. It took a couple of weekends, some sweat, and a few choice words when I dropped a brick on my toe, but I got that grill built.
Finally, I fired it up. Threw some charcoal in, let it heat up, and tossed a few burgers on the grill. The smell, oh man, the smell of those burgers cooking on my homemade brick grill was glorious. They tasted amazing, too. Probably the best burgers I’ve ever had.
So there you have it, my brick barbecue grill adventure. It was hard work, but totally worth it. Now I’ve got a grill that’ll last a lifetime, and it’s a heck of a conversation starter. Plus, every time I fire it up, I get to remember the blood, sweat, and maybe a few tears that went into building it. If I can do it, believe me, you can too!
What I learned:
- Building stuff is hard work.
- Firebricks are your friend.
- Mortar is messy but necessary.
- Burgers taste better on a grill you built yourself.
Anyway, just share my experience with you guys! Hope you enjoy it.
