Building a brick barbeque (BBQ)

LAST UPDATED: 3rd January 2023 by The Editorial Team

Building a brick barbeque

Summary: Step by step guide and video showing how to build a barbeque, prepare a position and lay the bricks.

How to build a brick BBQ

If you want to make the barbeque a more permanent feature in your garden the ideal solution is to build your own. A brick barbeque can be a beautiful addition to your garden and it should be located, whenever possible, in a corner of a patio to ensure a solid base. The positioning of the barbeque will need to be thought through carefully before you start building. It is not a good idea to have it in direct view from the house or somewhere too remote.

Preparing a position

Once you have a level surface lay the bricks without mortar in a double L-shape, check the corners are perfect right angles, and the charcoal pan fits.

The size of the brickwork frame you will be constructing will be determined by the size of the grill and charcoal pan, so purchase these first. For convenience build it reasonably close to the kitchen. Safety is a major consideration, so position the barbeque away from fire hazards such as fences, trellis, hedges and trees.

Before you begin to build the structure, a firm and level base is essential. This is best achieved by positioning the barbecue on a patio. If this is not possible, then a concrete foundation will be required.

Once you have a level surface lay the bricks without mortar in a double L-shape. By doing this, you can check that the corners are perfect right angles, and that the charcoal pan will fit as required. Use chalk to draw around the laid-out bricks and move the bricks out of the way.


ON reaching the sixth or seventh course lay three bricks on each side of the wall at right angles, so they stick out of both sides to support the charcoal tray.
The finished barbeque.

Laying the bricks

  • Mix up a general purpose mortar mix:
    1 part cement
    1 part lime
    5 parts builder’s sand
    Add water until you get the correct consistency.
  • Using a brick trowel put down a layer of mortar in the chalked outline of the barbeque.
  • Lay the first course of bricks on top of the mortar, using a builder’s square to check the corners are still at right angles. Use a spirit level to make sure this first course of bricks is level.
  • Apply a bed of mortar to the top of the first course of bricks and lay the second course, staggering the brick joints.
  • Continue to lay courses whilst periodically checking the bricks are level. You can also check the sides of the walls are even using a plumb line.
  • The charcoal pan is usually fitted at the height equivalent to six or seven courses. On reaching this height lay three bricks on each side of the wall at right angles, so they stick out of both sides. These bricks will support the charcoal tray.
  • Do the same again after you have laid another course of bricks (or two courses, depending on which you prefer) for the grill to rest upon. To vary the height of the grill, you can set metal rods in the mortar, between two or more courses of bricks.
  • Then build another two courses of brick on top of the highest grill setting. If the barbeque is in an exposed position, you may wish to build the wall on each side even higher to help block out the wind.

Tools needed

  • Shovel
  • Brick trowel
  • Builder’s square
  • Spirit level
  • Plumb line

Materials needed

  • Bricks
  • Cement
  • Lime
  • Builders sand

Building a barbeque video

Summary: DIY video showing you how to build a barbeque.

Author

The Editorial Team

The Editorial Team at lets-do-diy.com are a team of experts led by Mark Wilson. We have been creating DIY projects, articles, costs guides and product reviews since 2008. For more info see our about page.