BBQ's
While some people
prefer the mobility and user-friendliness of a portable, gas powered grill on
wheels, the sight of a stone BBQ on the patio or out in the yard is a very
reassuring and helps to make a house into a home. Backyard masonry BBQ's
add both character and value to a residence, and are also available for building
in relatively simple or complex designs.
The reality is that you can spend whatever you want on a
BBQ. The cheapest way of doing this is just to build a "fire
pit", which consists of a hole and a few metal poles to construct a cooking
grate. On the other hand, you can spend thousands of dollars on a fully
functional gas grill with convection fans, multiple burners, storage cabinets,
etc...
If you will look at the photos above, you may think that the
homemade BBQ is very complex and time consuming to build. However, when
broken down into it's basic components, the average gas or electric grill is not
that complicated. You need a place for the fire that is well ventilated
and a cooking grate to put the food on. That's all. With some
bricks, some metal parts, and a library book, you could put this kind of BBQ
together on a Saturday afternoon by yourself. Also, at any hardware store,
you can order an outdoor gas grill insert, which is just a grill that is made to
be placed in a masonry setting.
Some basic things to consider when installing your own masonry BBQ:
1) Appearance- A BBQ should be a nice addition to the house, not the main attraction. The style of the BBQ should follow suit with the house and not stand out a great deal.
2) Placement- The BBQ should be located away from other structures that may not respond well to fire or heat (see above photo). Place the BBQ where you won't have to worry about moving it anytime soon.
3) Utility usage- Your BBQ will be much more of an asset if it serves multiple purposes. Make your BBQ available for storage use, as well as a table to be eaten on.
4) Maintenance- Make your BBQ user friendly. You shouldn't have to cut through some bricks if something needs cleaned or fixed.
Keep in mind that all of the things above should be thought through very thoroughly in the planning phase of the BBQ. A lot of planning should go into the creation of a backyard BBQ, especially if you are doing it yourself.