Now before you start buying cement and 2x4's you need a good idea of what you want in a backyard cooker. You can build a simple grill or a complex smoker. Do you want something that's little more then a fire pit or do you want a fully functional gas grill that would put to shame any standalone on the market. Part of this decision should be based on cost. For a very small price you can construct an attractive fire pit with a few metal poles to support a cooking grate. Or you can sink a lot of money into a gas or electric grill with convection fans, multiple burners, storage cabinets, etc..
The reality is that a simple charcoal or wood fired barbecue isn't that complex. You need a place for the fire that is well ventilated and a cooking grate to put the food on. This kind of grill can be constructed from bricks with a little know how, a masonry book from the library and some pre-made metal parts. You could probably put it together on a Saturday afternoon with a friend or two and a six-pack of beer.
However if you want to go with a gas grill set up I would suggest purchasing a gas grill insert built for outdoor use. You can find these or order them from most any hardware store or local stove shop. They will probably also come with some plans to help you put it all together. The gas grill inserts usually comes in to plans drop in or slide in models. This requires a pretty simple structure to hold the grill in place.
Here are a couple of good rules to follow in planning your homemade barbecue:
- Placement: Put your barbecue where it won't put other structures in danger from fire, and where it can stay for many years to come.
- Appearance: Follow the design of house and yard so that your barbecue won't seem out of place and will fit into its surroundings.
- Utility: Make your barbecue more than a barbecue. A well-designed barbecue will do more than cook food. Plan on being able to use your outdoor kitchen’s storage and table space year round.
- Weather: Build your barbecue to withstand the elements particular to your part of the world. You want your barbecue to last so a good enclosure is a must.
- Maintenance: Design your barbecue to make it easy to clean and repair. You don't want to find out that you need to cut through stone or bricks to replace a part.
Amazingly enough there are not a great number of plans for backyard barbecues floating around. Sunset published a book in 1971 called "The Barbecue Building Book" and a second edition in 1986. Sunset has recently published a new book that you can still find in bookstores, or you can order it online. The book is called Building Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens and I actually had a small hand in getting it written. I hope you find it useful.
