Alright, so you wanna know how to build a brick BBQ pit, huh? Well, it ain’t rocket science, but it takes some elbow grease. I seen my husband build one back in the day, and it lasted longer than he did! Let me tell ya what I remember, it ain’t hard. Just need some good old bricks and some time on your hands.
First thing ya gotta do is find a good spot. Don’t go puttin’ it right next to the house, you’ll smoke the whole place out! Find a flat spot in the yard, that’s where you start. You want it far enough from anything that can catch fire, like trees or the shed. Safety first, as they say. This here’s your BBQ pit spot, so make it a good one.
Then ya gotta think ’bout the size. How big a brick BBQ you need? You cookin’ for the whole neighborhood or just the family? My husband, he liked to have folks over, so he built a big ol’ one. You can make it smaller if ya want. Just picture how many burgers and hot dogs you want to cook at once, then add a few more for good measure. This will help you determine the size for your brick BBQ.
Now, them bricks. Don’t go gettin’ them fancy new ones. You need them old, hard ones. Them clay bricks. The kind they used to make. The ones that got that black inside from the fire. The new ones, they’re just colored concrete, I’m tellin’ ya. Not gonna last. They ain’t no good for this kinda job. This here’s important for a long-lasting BBQ pit. Get the old clay, kiln fired bricks if you want it to hold up.
You gonna need somethin’ to put them bricks on, too. A good, solid bottom. My husband, he used them big ol’ flat stones, what they call pavin’ stones. Them would work just fine. You gotta make sure it’s level, though! Don’t want your brick BBQ to be all wonky, now do ya? You can use concrete too, pour a slab, that’s a good solid foundation. Lots of folks do that now. Either one will work for your brick BBQ pit foundation.
- Get yourself some old clay bricks, not the new stuff.
- Find a flat spot in your yard, away from the house.
- Make sure the base is level, stones or concrete.
- Figure out how big you want your BBQ pit.
Once you got your bottom all set, you can start layin’ them bricks. You gotta use that mortar stuff, like a paste to hold ’em together. My husband, he knew how to mix it up just right. Make sure it ain’t too runny, or it won’t hold nothin’. You want it to be like thick mud. It is important that your mortar is the right consistency for a sturdy brick BBQ.
Start layin’ them bricks around the edge of your base, makin’ a wall. Keep goin’ around and around, buildin’ it up higher and higher. You want it to be like a big box, open at the top. This is your basic brick BBQ pit shape. You can make it any shape you like, really. But a box is the easiest, I reckon.
You gotta leave a little openin’ at the bottom, for the air to get in. That’s how the fire breathes, ya know? If it can’t get no air, it ain’t gonna burn. And you can put a little door on it, too, if you’re feelin’ fancy. We ain’t had no door on ours. But it’s a good idea for your brick BBQ if you want to control the heat.
Keep pilin’ them bricks up, makin’ the walls higher. You wanna make sure it’s tall enough so you ain’t bendin’ over all the time. My husband, he made ours about waist high. That was a good height. But make your brick BBQ pit whatever height is comfortable for you. You’re the one gonna be doin’ the cookin’, after all!
Now, you gotta leave some space for the grill, where you put the food. You can put some metal rods across the top, or some angle iron, to hold the grill up. Make sure they’re good and strong, you don’t want them collapsin’ in the middle of cookin’! These supports are crucial for a functional brick BBQ.
And you gotta have a place for the coals, down at the bottom. Some folks, they put a metal tray down there, to catch the ashes. Makes it easier to clean up, I reckon. We just let ’em fall on the ground, but a tray is a good idea for your brick BBQ, makes things neater.
- Lay the bricks with mortar, like building a wall.
- Leave an opening at the bottom for air.
- Make it waist high, or whatever’s comfortable for you.
- Use metal rods or angle iron to support the grill.
- Consider a tray to catch the ashes in your brick BBQ pit.
Once you got all them bricks laid, you gotta let it dry. Don’t go buildin’ a fire in it right away, the mortar needs time to harden up. My husband, he used to wait a few days, just to be sure. Patience is key when building a brick BBQ, let that mortar set!
And that’s about it, I reckon. It ain’t that hard, just takes some time and some work. You’ll have yourself a fine brick BBQ pit that’ll last you for years. You can cook up all kinds of good food on it. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken, ribs, you name it. Nothin’ tastes better than food cooked over a real fire, I’m tellin’ ya. A well-built brick BBQ is perfect for all your grilling needs.
It’s a good project to do with your family, too. Get the kids involved, let them help lay the bricks. They’ll learn somethin’, and you’ll make some good memories. Building a brick BBQ pit can be a fun family activity.
So there ya have it. That’s how you build a brick BBQ pit. It ain’t fancy, but it gets the job done. And it’ll be somethin’ you can be proud of, somethin’ you built with your own two hands. Now go get them bricks and get to work! Your new brick BBQ awaits!
