How to build a barbeque pit

This article is about how to build a barbeque pit. Building a brick bbq pit is easy if you use the right plans for your needs and the most appropriate building techniques. On the other hand, you have to place the barbeque pit in the right location, therefore we recommend you to let a significant distance from the other structures in your backyard, as they could easily catch fire when cooking meat. Once you are aware of the danger of fire, you could plan the other aspects of your bbq pit, suck as its design, dimensions or features. For example, you could make it highly functional by building an adjacent table, to store the utensils and the wood while cooking.

Read with great care the local building codes, as to place the brick barbeque away from flammable substances, from fences and from your neighbors’ houses. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t build it too far from your home, as most likely you will have to make several trips to your kitchen, to get the meat and beverages. In addition, when planning the outdoor bbq, you should make sure you add a large patio next to it, to have enough space to set a table and several chairs. If you live in an area with hot summer days, it would be a great idea to build the barbeque pit under the shade of a big tree.

When building the bbq pit, you have many options in terms of design, features and cost. Therefore, on one hand, you could build a simple bbq by using bricks, mortar and a set of bbq grill accessories, or you can invest more money to equip it with state of the art appliances, such as a smoker, a small refrigerator, outdoor cabinets or a gas pizza oven. If you afford and are you willing to invest a small fortune in these features, you can turn the brick barbeque pit into a real outdoor kitchen and make it an attraction point of your backyard. The possibilities are endless, just use your imagination and customize our plans to fit your needs and tastes perfectly. See all my Premium Plans in the Shop.

 

Made from this plan

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Materials

  • A – rebars for the reinforcing structure of the foundation REBARS
  • B – concrete (foundation and countertop) CONCRETE
  • C – bricks  (100-200 bricks according to its size) BRICKS
  • D – 10 sq of flagstone FLAGSTONE

 

Tools

 

Tips

  • Read carefully our other articles related to barbeque construction
  • Water the bricks before laying them into place, otherwise they will soak the moisture from the compound
  • Place the brick bbq far away from inflammable substances or constructions
  • Buy the bbw grill grate before building the brick barbeque

 

Time

  • One weekend

 

Related

 

 

Building a barbeque pit

Building a bbq pit

Building a bbq pit

 

Smart Tip: If you like to spend time with your friends and family in your backyard, you should consider building a brick barbeque. As you can see in the image, you need to build a sturdy foundation and to build brick walls. Clad the contertop with flagstone, if you want to enhance the look of the bbq pit.

 

 

How to build the foundation for the barbeque pit

Barbeque pit foundation form

Barbeque pit foundation form

 

The foundation will support the weight of the brick bbq pit. Therefore, you have to lay it out on the construction site, using several batter boards and string, dig about  10″” (optionally, you could excavate 15” trenches for heavier constructions), pour a 2-3” layer of gravel mixed with sand, and afterwards compact it thoroughly.

Build the form using 2×6  boards and secure them with 2×4 stakes. Use a spirit level to make sure the form is perfectly horizontal on all sides.

 

Barbeque brick pit plans

Barbeque brick pit plans

 

Next, use rebars to make a dense reinforcing structure, as in the image. Place the net in the form, making sure you lay it on several 2” spacers, to reinforce the concrete properly. Use a power mixer or a wheel barrow to mix concrete, using the following proportions: 2 parts cement, 3 parts sand, 4 parts gravel and enough water to obtain concrete with cream consistency.

Smart Tip: Read the instructions labeled on the cement bags to get detailed information.

 

Bbq pit foundation plans

Bbq pit foundation plans

 

After you have poured the concrete in the form you have to vibrate it, as to remove the pockets of air. Therefore, you could either use a concrete vibrator or hit the form with a hammer several times. If the form is not secured properly, the concrete might move it from position.

Last but not least, use a straight edge to level the foundation, by pushing it along the sides of the form. Let the concrete dry out for at least 48 hours.

 

 

How to build a barbeque pit

Barbeque brick pit base

Barbeque brick pit base

 

Use the grill grates to help you when deciding the size of the barbeque pit. Therefore, place the grate on the foundation and use a pencil to outline its contour. Before drawing the guidance lines, make sure the grate is located properly and perfectly aligned with the foundation. Next, spread mortar with a trowel and lay a brick at the beginning and another at the end of the course. Tie a string to their exterior and place the rest of them til you complete the course. Don’t forget to firmly push the bricks into the mortar.

 

Build barbeque pit

Build barbeque pit

 

Apply mortar on the bricks and lay the next courses, in the same manner described above. If you need to adjust the size of the bricks, we recommend you to rent a wet saw. Starting with the forth course, place the side bricks perpendicularly, to support the grill grate.

Smart Tip: Use a sponge to clean the excess mortar off the bricks, as after it dries out it will be a lot harder to remove it.

 

Building the grill supports

Building the grill supports

 

Next, we recommend you to proceed in the same manner every other course. In this way, you can move the grill up and down according to the fire intensity or according to the food you are cooking. Use a spirit level to make sure the walls are perfectly plumb and the grill grate supports are aligned one with another.

Smart Tip: Use a brick jointer to remove the mortar from the bricks and create concave depressions.

 

How to build barbeque pit

How to build barbeque pit

 

Work with great care and attention if you want to get the job done as a professional. As you can see, building a barbeque pit isn’t that difficult, provided you use the right masonry techniques and appropriate plans.

Smart Tip: Use a spirit level every time you add another brick, to ensure the walls are plumb and the top is perfectly horizontal.

 

Building bbq pit

Building bbq pit

 

Lay another course of bricks, in the same manner described above. In addition, we also suggest you build a table adjacent to the barbeque pit, as in the image. In this manner, it will be easier to place the plates and utensils, while cooking the meat.

Use the technique described above and place the bricks so they jot out towards the table (they will support the concrete slab).

 

 

Bbq pit plans

how to build barbeque pit

How to build barbeque pit

 

After you have completed the most important steps of the brick barbeque pit construction, you still have to do the finishing touches. Therefore, place a concrete  slab on of the table. To set it into place, use an adhesive designed to bond stone. You can also lay flag stone on top of the last course of bricks, to make your bbq pit unique.

Smart Tip: Before using the adhesive to secure the stone, make sure it is designed for outside use.

 

Bbq pit grill grate

Bbq pit grill grate

 

After you have installed the stone countertop and secured it with adhesive you have to clean the brick barbeque pit with a damp sponge and a bowl of water.

Clean each brick with the sponge, making sure you remove the excess mortar and soak the sponge in water regularly. If you follow our tips, your barbeque will have a beautiful design, be highly functional and durable, and add value to your property.

 

Bbq pit designs

Bbq pit designs

 

Leave the mortar dry out for several days and then install the grill grate and the other accessories into place.  Building this bbq pit is easy, if you follow our step by step instructions and use quality materials.

Work with great care and with good judgement to build a wood fired barbeque in under a week. After you have completed the project, you should enjoy it together with your family for many years in a row.

 

 

Thank you reading our article about how to build a barbeque pit and we recommend you to check out the rest of our projects. Don’t forget to share our articles with your friends, by using the social media widgets.




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