When is the best time to build a BBQ?

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2 Thinking of building a brick BBQ? Then you ve found the right place. Buying disposable BBQs every year can get expensive and they never cook the sausages or the kebabs properly. This is why you need to build your own barbecue so you can heat up the coals whenever you fancy a BBQ dinner or garden party. Check out our step by step guide or watch our video below. Learn how to build a brick BBQ with our helpful guide. When is the best time to build a BBQ? Before you get started, you need to plan the best time to start building. Weather conditions can affect how the cement dries. If it s too hot the cement will dry out, if it s too cold, the cement will take ages to set. Check what your trusted weather forecaster predicts and wait for a few days of good weather. To work with cement the temperature needs to be between 6 degrees celsius to 25 degrees celsius. If the weather is hotter or colder than you will have to protect your bricks to control the temperatures. But as this can get a bit complicated, it s easier to find 2-3 days of decent weather. Where should I position my BBQ? You ve probably got an idea where you want to set up your barbecue. As long as you put it somewhere outside and away from anywhere flammable like trees, hedges, fencing or another building, you can t go wrong. Most people build their BBQs at the bottom of the garden so it s out of the way. How long does it take to build a brick BBQ? Following our guide it can take you between 1-3 days to build your BBQ. If you already have a concrete slab to build your barbie on top of then it will only take you a day to build, otherwise you will need another additional day or two for the concrete slab.

3 What you need: Building Tools 600mm spirit level Trowel Tape measure Bucket Building Materials Bricks Gravel Sand Cement Stiff brush Tamper Jointer Finally, don't forget to buy your BBQ Grill Trays (can be bought from any home improvement shops). There s no solid rules for the height and width of your brick barbecue, you should build it to the height you re comfortable cooking on your BBQ. We're building our barbecue to a height of eleven brick courses. Do you have your materials and your tools? Let s get started.

4 How to build a brick barbecue (step-by-step guide) If you don t already have a concrete floor to start building your brick BBQ, you will have to make one (move onto step 5 if you already have a concrete slab to build your barbie on). Get the BBQ grill trays you want to use and place them on the ground where you want to start building. Measure the size of the trays with your tape measure and write down the measurements. These will be your guidelines as you build. Place a course of your desired bricks around your trays in a U shape so you can see for yourself where the barbecue will stand. Measure it and then measure another three additional inches around your bricks. Take this measurement as this will be the size of your square concrete slab. Clear away any grass from the area and mark the measurements of your proposed concrete slab. Then excavate the ground by 8 inches. Pro tip - if you re working on grass, use sticks to mark the corners of your proposed concrete slab.

5 Pour your gravel into the excavated area 4 inches deep. Pack it down with a tamper, then make your cement in your bucket (or wheelbarrow) as recommended on the building instructions. Fill your cement on top of the gravel, use a trowel to flatten the surface and straighten the edges of your concrete slab. Leave the concrete slab to dry for hours. Then it's time to build the BBQ. Before you start slabbing the mortar to your bricks, place your first brick course on the concrete slab. In our image below, our BBQ grills fit perfectly in the U shape. Make your mortar and apply the mortar with a trowel to your bricks.

6 Make mortar with your sand and cement as detailed in your instructions. Then start laying the first course of your bricks with your premade mortar. Try to be tidy but you can clean away any excess mortar as you work. Complete the first course. Check the balance with your spirit level, as this is the foundation of your BBQ so it needs to be right.

7 Continue building the next courses. As you build, keep measuring the balance with your spirit level and be neat with your work.

8 On the eighth course, we turned three bricks inwards on each side, to create shelves for our grill trays. Your trays should just slide onto the bricks, just like they would in an oven. Turning bricks inwards to make shelves for your grills

9 For guidance, this is what the shelves will look like when the BBQ is complete. When you have turned in three bricks on each side of the BBQ. Continue building the rest of the course and then build another normal course.

10 Before the mortar dries, it's important to tidy up your brickwork so it looks professional. Use your jointer to smooth the mortar in between the bricks. Learn how to use a jointer here. Using a jointer

11 Look at this expert jointing work! Right you should be about to start your tenth course now. Repeat step 7 as we're going to build another shelf for the BBQ grills.

12 Then just one more course to build. Remember to use your spirit level to check the balance and when you've finished joint the brickwork. Use your stiff brush to remove any excess mortar.

13 This barbie is a beauty! Finally, you've completed your brick barbie! Put in your grills and your BBQ is officially complete. Let the bricks dry for at least 24 hours before you start getting out the coals and the kebabs. Check the instructions on your cement as they should say how long it takes to dry.

14 Now you've accomplished your brick barbecue, what's your next DIY project? Join our academy to get free 'how-to-build' ebooks. Want to fix a wall or build a new wall in the garden? Join the academy now!