Building Your Own Brick BBQ Pit
There are very few of us who can resist the smell of barbecue coming from an outdoor grill, especially if the grill is coming from our own backyard. Add the pool, the margaritas and soft jazz in the background and life is very good indeed. What makes this scene even better is if the scent is coming from a brick BBQ that you have built for yourself. Brick BBQ's are a beautiful addition to anyone's back yard and it is a home project that is attainable and gives you a sense of accomplishment when it is completed.
Location and Preparation
The first thing you must do after you have decided to build your own brick BBQ is decide where to put it. It is smart to have your barbecue close to the house since you will be carrying food and utensils from within the house out to it. Normally, we all forget a few things when barbecuing so you know you will have to make extra trips into the kitchen and very soon those trips inside and back out are going to get very long.
Try and figure out which way the wind normally blows so you don't pick a spot where the chef is going to get smoke directly into his face or into the house. You will also want to keep your brick BBQ away from fences, buildings and overhanging trees. Always keep your barbecue on relatively level ground. A good base for your brick BBQ would be large pavers that are laid on a bed of sand or you can dig a pit and install a wooden form along the inside of the hole and then pour concrete. This is the best base for a new brick BBQ.
Design
Your next step is to design your brick BBQ. Be sure your BBQ is at a comfortable height and the firebox is only a few inches below. You will also want to include one or two shelves so you can keep your grilling paraphernalia close at hand when cooking. You can make your BBQ as fancy as you want, but the most beautiful and most useful brick BBQ grills are the most simple ones. You don't want anything to stand in the way of good flavor, not even good looks.
It might be a great idea to check with the local BBQ store to see if they have any pre-made brick BBQ plans that you can purchase. If you follow the directions to one these plans explicitly you will undoubtedly have a beautiful and very useful brick BBQ. It doesn't take long to construct a BBQ but the time goes much faster if you decide to make it a party affair. Of course, start and finish the project before the case of beer is opened and perhaps you will be cooking dinner on it before the stars come out. Brick BBQ's are fun home projects and if you are handy at home and enjoy grilling it might be a project that you might really enjoy undertaking.
