How to Install a BBQ Pit

Even with snow still on the ground, many of us are dreaming of warmer times. A nice cold drink on the back porch and meat sizzling on the grill. This is the stuff of dreams. There are a couple ways to make this a reality. The first would be a cheap charcoal grill out back. While this may be a good start, the majority of us would rather have that nice built-in pit in the yard; the kind of BBQ pit that can grill burgers and dogs, or even a whole pig if you wanted it to. Whether you are a fan of gas, charcoal, or wood fires, one of these monster gems of grilling can easily be yours. Just think of how jealous all your friends and neighbors will be when you unveil a brick BBQ pit/ smoker/ rotisserie just steps away from your patio.

The first thing you will need to do is design your grill. You can be as extravagant or simple as you want to be. This is your dream grill, make it the grill of your dreams. Some things that you may want to add area propane burners on one side of the grill, or even a motor to spin your whole pig or chickens on the rotisserie. The main thing is to make sure you leave the center for your grill. You may want to go around looking at different grills and pits on the market. This will give you all sorts of ideas. Before you get to building, you may want to check your budget to make sure that all of your ideas can be incorporated. If you find yourself running low on cash, you may want to consider some alternatives or adding these ideas later. Once you have a final drawing of your grill, you will want to figure out how large it will be. You may also want to divide it into sections. If you build it in sections, it is easier to pay for, and easier to install. You may want to begin with the center and work outward. No matter which way you choose to build it, You will want to make sure that you have the room. If you already have a concrete slab to work from, you will want to keep your grill small enough to fit in this area. If you do not have an existing platform, you will need to make sure you have the room in your yard to hold your grill.

Once you have the basic design, you will want to look at your yard and figure out where to put it. This will involve a close to accurate idea of the final pit's size. It would be a shame to be half way through the construction of this thing and have to rip it out and start over in another spot. Not only will you need the room for the grill, but you will want a place to stand in front of your grill. So once you get the dimensions, you can figure out whether you want a half circle platform to put it on with walk around areas on both sides as well, or whether you just want a spot in front. You can also extend this platform so that you have enough room for a table and chairs. This will allow you to use it as a fire pit in the cool evenings while relaxing by the fire with friends and loved ones. You may want to get a cardboard cutout of the "foot print" of the grill to give you a better idea of the space it will take up. This can also help you to decide where to put the grill. Once it is in the ground, it is a little difficult to move. You want to be sure of the location before you start.

The next step will be to set up the foundation. There are a couple ways to do this. The first is to dig a two to six inch deep hole to fill with concrete. This may be easier to create a custom look to the design of your grill. You can dig the hole in any shape and fill it with the concrete. This will give you the ability to make any shape for your foundation. You can also use bricks as the foundation if you do not like the look of concrete. My favorite design is to use a two inch hole lined with bricks around the edge and filled with concrete. This will give you a raised platform with a nice brick trim, but smooth and finished like concrete. The final design is up to you. You can also add a mosaic to the concrete. This gives you even more flexibility in your designs. It will also allow you to get your whole family involved with the project. Anyone can lay tile pieces to create the design. You can place the mosaic right into the concrete after it dries enough for the pieces to float on top. This will seal the pieces in place with no glue as well.

Once the foundation is laid, you can start to lay the bricks for your pit. There are also some options at this point as well. The easy way is to buy a grill from the store and surround it with bricks. This may be easy, but it is also very expensive. The cheapest method is to use the bricks to build it. If you are using a propane set up, make one section on the side that will house your tank and run the lines to the burners in the main section. A little thought and planning, and you can put any feature you want into this grill. If you want a rotisserie, make the central part deeper with a removable spit, in case you need it to be a grill. If you desire a smoker, you will want the fire plate to be near the ground. In this case, you may want to make the fire plate adjustable so you can convert it to a grill for burgers and dogs. You can also install a side burner for frying turkeys or making gumbo. The possibilities are endless. Just follow your design or try to keep it all the same size. This way you do not have to redo the foundation.

When dealing with propane, you will want to buy pre-built burners. These are very difficult to build on your own, and if you do not know how to do it properly, you can cause an explosion. You can usually find these elements in camping or BBQ stores. If all else fails, you can go online as well. There are some companies that offer custom built burners. This may be another option if you can not find one that fits your design.

Once the mortar dries, it is time to invite your friends and neighbors over for a great barbeque. There is only one way to break it in, and that is a massive amount of meat being flame grilled on your new toy. For the cost of a some bricks and mortar, you can have a beautiful barbeque pit in your yard. This will make the perfect summer time addition to any home.