Homemade Backyard Brick Barbecues

Pouring the Foundation

• 1

  Lay grilling tray on the ground where barbecue will stand.

• 2

  Place a row of bricks around the two short sides and the rear length of the grill tray.

• 3

  Mark the dimensions with stakes and string.

• 4

  Line the stakes and string with wooden two-by-fours placed on their sides. Nail the pieces of wood together to make a wooden frame around the foundation area, making sure the frame is level.

• 5

  Dig out a trench, four inches deep and four inches wide, around the border of the framed area.

• 6

  Make sure the ground in the trench and in the center of the foundation area is level. If not, the cement slab and resulting barbecue will not be level.

• 7

  Re-check the frame to ensure the corners are at 90-degree angles and the frame is level.

• 8

  Mix one part cement with two parts sand and three parts gravel in a wheelbarrow. Slowly add water and mix thoroughly according to package instructions.

• 9

  Dampen the foundation area with water and immediately pour the concrete until is it three inches below the top of the wooden frame.

• 10

  Lay rebar two inches from the sides of the wooden frame. Each piece of rebar should be four inches shorter than the length of wood it is placed next to. Arrange the rebar across the concrete so that it is forming a rebar rectangle within wooden frame. Make sure that the ends of the rebar are touching. This will help support the weight of the barbecue.

• 11

  Continue pouring concrete to the top of the wooden frame. Tap the frame with a hammer to remove any air pockets in the concrete.

• 12

  Use a two-by-four or other straight piece of wood and slide it across the top of the frame to even out the concrete.

• 13

  Let the concrete sit for several days before removing the wooden frame.

Building the Barbecue

• 14

  Mix five parts sand with one part cement in a wheelbarrow. Add enough water to give it a stiff but even consistency. Spread a layer of mortar on the sides and back of the concrete slab. Place bricks on top of the mortar layer, making sure they are level.

• 15

  Place an hourglass-shaped metal tie at the corners to help bond the two walls and increase the barbecue's strength. Add another layer of mortar, bricks and metal ties on top of the first layer. Check at each step to ensure that the layer is level and that the corners are right angles. Put on ten layers, or two feet, of brick.

• 16

  On the eighth layer, turn the bricks on the left and right walls sideways to create a ledge for the charcoal tray. Check the height. If you want a taller grill, another layer before creating the ledge.

• 17

  Add another three layers of bricks and create another ledge for the grilling tray. Add another two layers of bricks.

• 18

  Use a length of curved pipe to smooth the outside of the mortar joints and give the barbecue a more professional appearance. Let the barbecue dry for several days before sliding in the charcoal and grilling trays.