A brick barbecue is the dream of most summer residents. What could be better than outdoor recreation with the whole family or a friendly company? Yes, and dishes cooked on an open fire, of course, differ in taste and are healthy. This article provides the information necessary to understand the details of self-laying a barbecue at their summer cottage.

Brick barbecue oven: determine the location

Before you start building a brick barbecue with your own hands, you need to decide on the place of its localization. Here you need to take into account that the building should be as far away from the site of the neighbors as possible. It is also necessary that there are no flammable structures nearby, wooden buildings, planting trees, etc. It would be advisable to allocate a site that can be provided with water supply, electricity, and on which in the future next to the structure you can build a gazebo or recreation area.

As a rule, the presence of a barbecue implies that there will be a constant crowd of people near this device. If the decision is made to install a brick barbecue in the gazebo, landscapers recommend not planting grass or flowers in the surrounding area. It is better to fill the site with decorative gravel, stones or tile. In this case, the area located near the barbecue will have a neater and more tidy appearance.

Brick barbecue laying tools and materials

To build a barbecue oven for a summer residence, you will need tools for laying mortar, a plumb line in two dimensions (vertical and horizontal), a level, a rubber mallet, a grinder, a saw for wet cutting bricks. You should also prepare the appropriate discs. A sieve (for sifting sand and clay), buckets for mixing the solution, and a nylon thread for ordering are useful as auxiliary tools.

From the materials you need to purchase red and fireclay bricks, ready-made masonry mix or clay. For the foundation, you will need cement, gravel, river sand and reinforcement (for laying in the base of the structure). The amount of materials is determined by the size of the future barbecue. For the construction of formwork, boards are required.

Helpful advice! When buying materials, be sure to make a margin of 15%. This is the volume that can be lost in the event of a marriage made during construction.

Depending on what the project of a brick barbecue oven involves, additional steel sheets, doors, dampers, grates, blowers, skewers and other stove castings may be needed.

Do-it-yourself calculation of the amount of materials for a barbecue made of bricks

When the foundation is strong, you can proceed directly to the masonry. In order to avoid delaying construction due to a lack of materials, consumable calculations should be carefully performed. The first thing that will help in laying a brick barbecue is the drawings of the future design. When planning the size of the building, it is worth considering not only the possible free area, but also personal preferences. The oven must be suitable for your height. In addition, it is necessary that the working surface combines convenience and safety of operation.

Next, you should take into account the dimensions of the brick: the length is 25 cm, the width is 12 cm and the height is 6.5 cm. The width of the mortar joint must be included in the calculations. It is quite natural that the number of bricks is determined both by the size of the furnace and its functional features. In addition, the type of chimney and the height of the chimney must be taken into account.

Preparing a brick barbecue base for a summer residence

The right foundation is the basis of a balanced masonry. To prepare a place for the foundation, it is important to remove the fertile soil layer and, if necessary, deepen the pit by approximately 20-25 cm. The area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe foundation should exceed the dimensions of the planned structure by 50 cm along the entire perimeter. The size of the site primarily depends on personal preferences: you need to decide whether the gazebo will be located nearby or whether the foundation is needed only for the stove itself.

The bottom of the base should be thoroughly leveled, and then covered with a layer of crushed stone 15 cm thick. At this stage, it is important to observe the symmetry of the base. Be sure to tamp the surface with a vibrating plate or (in its absence) a rammer — metal or wood.

Further actions vary depending on the type of foundation chosen. If a paving slab or paving stone is chosen as the base, the coating is covered with fine sand. The slab foundation is recommended to be reinforced with a 10 mm thick rod. It is laid along and across in increments of 20 cm. The intersections of the rod should be fixed with plastic clamps or tied. In addition, reinforcement can be done with a ready-made mesh and poured with concrete. Before pouring the solution, it is advisable to repeat the bottom check for horizontality. The surface of the base platform must be leveled: it must be flat in all directions.

You can continue building a brick barbecue oven with your own hands after 1-2 weeks (depending on the average daily air temperature). If the temperature was above 20 °C, one week will be sufficient. At an average daily temperature of 17 ° C, you will need to wait two weeks. Usually, the time interval is maintained only with self-laying the furnace. Builders, as a rule, are focused on speed and do not always comply with these requirements.

Masonry mortar for outdoor barbecue made of bricks

The strength and durability of the entire structure is largely determined by the quality of the composition for pouring the foundation. For this type of buildings, it is recommended to use clay mortar. If there is no desire to purchase a ready-made mixture, you can make it yourself. The advantages of using a homemade solution are undeniable. Firstly, such a furnace, if necessary, is subject to repair work. Secondly, the cost of a home-made solution is much lower than the price of a ready-made mixture from a store.

To prepare a high-quality clay solution, you will need fine river sand, water, oily clay, cement or table salt. There are no universal proportions in the preparation of a clay-sand composition. Only by experimentation can you find the optimal consistency. This is primarily due to the fat content of the clay. The fatter the clay, the less it crumbles when it dries.

Helpful advice! Raw brick has an optimal content of clay and sand, perfectly combines with bricks in masonry and serves as an ideal basis for masonry mortar. The use of this material will reduce the time required to calculate the proportions and prepare the mixture.

To perform further work, you will need two sieves with cells of 1.5 × 1.5 mm and 3 × 3 mm. Sand should be sifted through a fine sieve to separate it from impurities. This will make a thin layer of masonry mortar. To sift the clay, you must first soak it in water to the consistency of thin sour cream, and then strain the resulting mixture through a fine sieve. We add sand to this mass, mix the solution and again drive the entire mixture through a sieve with 3 × 3 mm cells.

Sand should be added gradually — at the rate of 1 liter of sand per bucket of clay mixture. Using a smooth wooden board, you can check the elasticity of the resulting solution. To do this, you need to dip it into the prepared mixture and look at the thickness and consistency of the adhering layer. A layer of 2 mm thick will be optimal for masonry. To the touch, the resulting solution should be soft and elastic, exclude lumps and clots.

To increase the strength of the mixture for a brick barbecue oven, it is recommended to add 100-250 g of table salt per 1 bucket of mortar. Cement can be used as an alternative to salt. However, it must first be diluted with water to the consistency of thick sour cream and mixed with the mixture. For 1 bucket of mortar, you will need 0.75 liters of such a cement mass.

The approximate consumption of the mixture for 100 pieces of bricks is 20 liters (with a masonry joint width of 5 mm). The type of brick used and the thickness of the seam are important here. You need to be prepared for the fact that in some cases the consumption of the solution can increase up to 35 liters.

Barbecue ordering: a guarantee of reliable and durable masonry

Professional builders use the term «ordering» in two senses, which even a beginner should be aware of. In the first case, ordering is a schematic representation of the future design in rows. Such a scheme allows the beginner not to go astray when laying, and the master to significantly save time when implementing projects of the same type. Schemes, drawings and photos of the barbecue help visualize the final result or make adjustments at the stage of construction work.

In the second variant of the use, the word «ordering» denotes a device that controls the height and horizontality of each brick row. This device will provide the so-called architectural balance, extend the life of the building and act as a guarantor of safety when using an outdoor barbecue. In addition, it will help to calculate the required amount of material, eliminate unnecessary costs.

Ordering consists of two vertical slats on the sides of the wall. They are attached to the bottom rows (at least two rows). In order not to damage the brickwork, it is recommended to use brackets instead of bolts for fastening.

Masonry control is carried out with the help of notches applied at intervals of 77 mm along the height of the lath. This figure is calculated as follows: the thickness of the connecting seam (12 mm) is added to the height of the brick (65 mm). If the seam width differs from the specified one, the notch interval will change in proportion to this indicator.

Important! When applying notches, the accuracy of measurement plays a decisive role. If the interval on the rails does not match even by 1-2 mm, the horizontal structure of the structure will be disturbed, which will affect the quality of the brick barbecue.

Between the notches of the opposite rails, a mooring is stretched — a strong nylon thread or lace. The tension of the rope is extremely important: it should not sag, otherwise it will not be possible to control horizontality. If a level is used when laying the first tiers, then the mooring performs its function in the future. This principle of masonry control gives an advantage not only in quality, but also in the speed of work.

For convenience, you can apply the order to three or even four brick walls. Thanks to this principle, you can easily control the symmetry of the structure, the accuracy of the angles and the horizontality of the masonry at the same time around the entire perimeter.

There are ready-made control devices on sale, but you can make the order yourself from improvised materials. It should only be taken into account that a home-made device is only suitable for one-time use and does not guarantee accuracy during subsequent use.

Forming the bottom and erecting the walls of a brick barbecue

After the foundation has finally hardened, you can begin to form the so-called «legs». In this case, the laying is carried out in a checkerboard pattern. Usually eight rows of bricks are laid out so that the height is 60 cm. Of course, these data are arbitrary and vary in accordance with the barbecue drawing.

Next, we move on to creating a firebox and building a wall. The firebox can be made of reinforced concrete. Approximately its size is 80×80 cm. Formwork will be needed to perform these works. Be sure to wait for the complete drying of the structure. In some embodiments, the barbecue firebox can be constructed from metal.

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When erecting walls, bricklaying is carried out according to the same chess principle as when laying out the “legs”. It is worth noting that the front side remains empty. At this stage of construction, it is important to provide for attachment points for the grate or skewers.

Helpful advice! When laying the walls of a barbecue oven with your own hands, be sure to take a break from work for 1-2 days every 4-7 rows. This will allow the brick to dry and the mortar to sink.

Optimal brick barbecue projects for a summer cottage

It is not always possible to resort to the services of specialists for the manufacture of brick barbecues at their summer cottage: the price sometimes does not correspond to the amount of work. Many people like to equip their site on their own — without the help of outsiders. That is why this article proposes the simplest schemes for laying a barbecue oven with your own hands.

Do-it-yourself open brick barbecue grill scheme

This design is the easiest to implement. When laying a barbecue for a brick cottage, it is recommended to use a material that is not afraid of high temperatures and does not absorb moisture too much. Furnace or full-bodied ceramic (it is a little cheaper) brick is best suited. Before laying out the first row, you should take care of waterproofing. For this purpose, roofing material or waterproofing in two layers is suitable. You can repeat the procedure (only in one layer) after the first row of bricks.

In the brazier of this design, masonry is carried out by means of a clay-sand mixture with the addition of cement. It is very important to observe horizontality and adhere to the width of the mortar joint. For an open barbecue, it is 3-5 mm.

The layout of the masonry is quite clear, it looks like an inverted letter «Sh». This form is observed until the 6th row. Then the masonry continues on half of the structure and, accordingly, has a U-shaped appearance.

The first and subsequent odd rows start with a whole brick, and the second and subsequent even rows start with half. Pay attention to the 6th and 10th layers: here you need to put the brick sideways and deploy it across the main masonry. In total, the design has 13 rows. The length of such a brazier will be 181 cm, width — 90 cm. You can visually see what a brick barbecue of this type looks like in the photo.

A simple brick barbecue complex for beginners

Approximately such a complex consists of 275 pieces. bricks. If desired, it can be simplified somewhat by reducing costs and making the chimney out of sheet metal (rather than brick). This oven consists of 18 rows up to the chimney and 10 rows up to the barbecue grill. We start, as in the previous version, with waterproofing. Until the 6th row, we form a hole for the grate. Further laying is carried out according to the scheme. In the 8th and 23rd tiers, a steel sheet 5 mm thick is installed. In the 11th row, it is planned to install a square cast-iron plate measuring 41 × 41 cm.

To visually represent the layout of the barbecue stove, we recommend using a schematic sketch. This will make it easier to navigate the ranks. Be sure to follow the rule: if the bottom brick is laid lengthwise, then the upper two rows must be laid lengthwise.

Barbecue project with chimney and worktop

Such a furnace is a little more complicated in its design, but if there is a scheme, even a beginner can make it. Please note that the furnace chamber in this variant has a straight vault. Technically, it is much easier to perform than the vaulted version. The dimensions of the barbecue are optimal for a summer cottage. The height of the structure is 217.5 cm, while the frying chamber is raised by 90 cm.

So where to start? Since the brick absorbs moisture well, two layers of waterproofing should be spread on the prepared and dried foundation, and then the laying process should begin. It is important to strictly adhere to the scheme and control the width of the connecting seam.

Helpful advice! To control the width of the seam, you can use reinforcement, the diameter of which is equal to the required thickness. It should be applied to the edge of the brick, fill the area with mortar, and remove the excess with a trowel. After tapping, the reinforcement will not allow the brick to fall below the level. After completing this procedure, the rod is removed and placed on the next row.

The first row is laid out solid. Up to the 5th layer, the masonry has a U-shape. To lay a continuous row of bricks (for example, the 6th and 7th rows), you can put three strips of metal 0.5 cm thick and 4 cm wide. One strip is laid on the edge of the structure, the rest in the middle of each brick layer. From the 8th to the 10th row, the laying is done in the form of an inverted letter «Sh».

It is worth noting that in the 12th tier, bricks sawn along are used. The size of the 12th and 13th solid rows will be slightly larger than the rest. Thus, the decorative belt of the outdoor barbecue oven is laid out.

The laying of subsequent layers is carried out using fireclay bricks in a U-shape up to the 21st row. It is recommended to use the same composition of the solution. Next, the summary is laid out. Already after the 22nd layer, it begins to narrow. From the 30th row, the vault passes into the chimney. The 30th and 31st layers alternate until the required height is obtained. To narrow the design, each next row should be laid out half as much as the previous one. The chimney, like the firebox, must be made of refractory bricks. Instead of a brick arch to remove smoke, you can construct a metal box. Barbecue with your own hands is ready.

You should be aware that the use of the complex for its intended purpose is possible only a few days after the completion of construction. The solution must dry thoroughly. Otherwise, when making a fire, the walls of the structure may crack.

This device can be endowed with additional functions by forming an auxiliary work surface. It will be convenient to place kitchen utensils, dishes, cut food, etc. here. For its construction, it is necessary to dig a foundation pit and pour the foundation parallel to the side wall. When the surface is dry, you can start laying bricks. You will need to form six rows. To create a countertop, you can use a board, a sheet of thick plywood, a tile floor, a marble slab, etc.

Brick barbecue: photos of the best solutions for a summer cottage

On numerous photos and diagrams, you can see various options for making a brick barbecue. The barbecues shown in the photo are easy to modify in accordance with personal needs and the characteristics of a particular site. You can modify the work surface, add decor to the design, or you can even come up with your own barbecue design based on the available examples. When building a brick barbecue, the drawings and photographs posted on the pages of this article will help you choose the right option and save time.

Now even a beginner will understand how to make a brick barbecue with his own hands. If you follow the above recommendations, the process of making a barbecue will take place without possible difficulties, additional material costs, and the end result will delight you and your loved ones for more than one year.