How to Build an Outdoor Grill
Outdoor grilling is an excellent way to make use of outdoor living space. Even the most unskilled homeowners can add a unique feature to their landscaping design and save a fair amount of money by choosing to build their own outdoor grills.
- Find a suitable location for your outdoor grill. The site should be as level as possible and far away from potential fire hazards.
- Designate a perimeter for your grill using stakes and twine. Make sure that the perimeter is square and even.
- Excavate 4 to 6 inches of soil from the area within the perimeter. Follow this by building a wooden frame that squarely fits the outside edges of the perimeter.
- Mix concrete and pour it into the excavation. Be sure to smooth the concrete to an even surface as it dries. Add pieces of metal to the concrete as it dries to increase strength and reduce the chances of cracking. Allow two to three days for the concrete to dry before continuing.
- Mix mortar and begin adding bricks to the concrete. Start off by adding full layers to the concrete beginning with the corners. Do this by using a trowel to apply a thin layer of mortar to the bottom and sides of each brick before placing it on the surface. Remove excess mortar before moving on to the next brick. Stagger the layers so that each brick lies over the mortar line of the previous layer.
- Build up the sides and back of the grill once you have finished five or more layers. Place metal rods in the mortar between the layers of brick that are at the appropriate heights for the firing pan and grill racks.