DIY Network

Brick Barbecue: Concrete Pad Brick Barbecue: Concrete Pad From "Fire Up the Grill" episode DFUG-105

Homeowners Scott and Susan Waters welcome host April Adams to their house and show her the area of their backyard where they'll be building their new brick barbecue. Next the couple heads to the General Shale brick store of Charlotte, North Carolina, to select their bricks.

At General Shale, sales representative Tracey Ross reviews with the Waters all the tools and accessories they'll need to begin construction. Back home, Scott and Susan begin digging out their chosen site, leveling the dirt to prepare for the pouring of the barbecue's concrete pad ....

advertisement

Materials:

Tape measure
Spray paint
1 2"x4"
Mattock
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Level
10 80-pound bags of concrete mix
Mixing trough
3/4 gallon of water
Garden hoe

Steps:

1. Measure the ground site to 46 inches on all four sides, creating a perfect square (figure A).

2. Using spray paint, spray solid lines of paint from all four corners. It's helpful to lay a 2"x4" on each side to ensure a straight paint line (figure B).

3. Cut approximately three to four inches outside the perimeter of the painted lines by using a mattock (figure C).

4. Once the perimeter is cut, begin digging out the dirt in the center of the square with a shovel (figure D).

5. Dig down to a depth of seven to eight inches (figure E). Reserve the dirt for future ground cover.

6. Place a level on the surface of the base to guarantee that the surface is completely level.

7. Pour one bag of the concrete mix into one end of the mixing trough, then pour 3/4 gallon of water into the other end of the trough (figure F). Using a garden hoe, pull small amounts of the concrete mix into the water until it's all mixed together (figure G); the consistency should resemble thick cake batter.

8. Pour the concrete into the pit until it completely fills in the hole.

9. Pat the top of the concrete with the smooth head of the garden hoe to smooth out the surface before it dries (figure H).

10. Allow the concrete to dry for 48 hours before laying brick.

Final Notes and Tips

• Oversized bricks are often used on homes or large-scale projects. For smaller projects, such as the barbecue grill featured here, modular bricks are recommended.

• One cube of modular brick contains roughly 525 bricks.

• Another term for a partial cube is "strap" of brick.

• When choosing a mortar shade, the lighter the color, the more expensive.

• Depending on the type of soil in your yard, additional reinforcements may be needed for the grill base. For sandy soil, a plywood border is recommended.

• Use the tip of a shovel head to break open the bag of concrete and then pour all of the dry ingredients in one end of the wheelbarrow. Slowly add water to the other end and then pull the dry ingredients into the water.

Note: Click here for downloadable, illustrated plans and instructions on the brick barbecue featured in this episode!