How to Build Your Own BBQ Pit

The smell of juicy steaks, roasted corn, and hamburgers being roasted on a barbeque is simply irresistible. It becomes all the more tempting when the aroma comes from one's own backyard. The history of barbeque mentions popularity in the 1950s, however, building barbeque pits fell out of favor with the masses, as more and more people opted for the gas and charcoal grills that stormed the market. However, people are rediscovering the fun of organizing their own barbeque parties, and grilling meat in self-made barbeque pits as they drink margaritas and sway to the tunes of soft jazz playing in the background.

Points to Note

Location

It is very important to decide on the right spot in your backyard before you plan to build your own BBQ pit. Choose a spot that is not too far away from your house. This is important because covering long distances between the BBQ pit and the kitchen will be tedious. However, do not keep it too close to your house or your neighbor's either. Keep it away from fences, overhead trees or electrical wires. After all you want to smoke your meat and not the structures around your house! Also keep in mind the wind directions, as you definitely do not want smoke getting into your or your neighbor's house. In case your town is prone to strong winds, select a spot for your BBQ pit that is most protected from being beaten down by strong winds or heavy rains. You definitely want your BBQ pit to keep standing for a couple of years at least, don't you?

Size and Design of the BBQ Pit

It always helps to keep in mind if you want the BBQ pit to serve for barbeque parties with your friends, or if you want such parties to be small family affairs. Decide on the size accordingly. You could also decide upon adding hooks to your pit to hang utensils while cooking. Drawing a plan with proper measurements and the points marked where the hooks have to be inserted, would be a good idea to prevent any confusion while constructing the barbeque pit.

Laying the Base

It is important to provide your BBQ pit with a strong base, as it will allow the structure to stand for years to come. Place your BBQ pit on level ground. In case a concrete or brick patio is not available in your house, build a concrete base for your barbeque pit. Make a 60 by 90 inch timber framework, about 6 inches in height. Pour a mixture of 2 parts of sand to 1 part of cement into the framework. For more strength, 2.5 parts of gravel could also be added to it. Wait for at least 48 hours for the cement mixture to dry. Remove the timber framework once the slab is ready. It is always advisable to give the base a slope as this would allow water to easily run off it.

Brickwork

Soak the bricks in water the previous night so that the bricks are wet enough. Dry bricks will soak in the mortar, thereby preventing the bricks from binding together. On the base you may mark the line along which the first layer of bricks will be laid. Lay down consecutive layers of bricks with a mixture of 3 parts of sand to 1 part of cement to hold the bricks together. After having laid each layer, use a hand-level to check if the structure is even. Scrape off extra amount of mortar from the sides so that it does not stain the brick walls. Once the BBQ pit has got its shape, it is time to build the inner brickwork area that would house the grill and cinder area of the barbeque. It is important to measure the grill and the cinder tray you would use, as at this stage the ledge for the grill and cinder tray has to be made. Whether it is a single or double grill that you plan to use, the brickwork should be strong enough to support the rods that hold the grill and the cinder tray. Ensure there is enough space so that the grill and the cinder tray can be easily removed for cleaning. As you work on the inner brickwork, place the grill supports or rods into the mortar and check if they hold the grill before the mortar dries, so that adjustments can be made in case the placement of the supports need to be changed. Once you are through with the inner brickwork, wait for the mortar to dry up completely. When the mortar has almost dried you could remove extra cement on the walls using a brush to give your barbeque pit a neat look.

A self-made BBQ pit looks great in the garden and a brick one further accentuates the look of the backyard. These days, videos which show how build your own BBQ pit are available on the Internet. It's just proper planning and a little bit of care that is required, and who knows, you might just have your own barbeque party the next football season. Bon appetit!