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Charcoal grill project.

Stanley Design

Stanley Design

Dec 20, 2002
3,842
5
39
Prince Edward Island
www.myspace.com
#1
I'm hooked on this!

I decided to build my pappy a big brick grill in my backyard for fathers day. I have my design, I have the cement, I have the tools and I have a bit of know how.

The problem? The cost of bricks are incredibly expensive! I watched Bob Vila showing how to build a brick BBQ and he said regular 4x8" bricks were about 30 cents each. Which is only 32 cents Canadian. So I thought "perfect, well within my budget". I get to Home Depot and low and behold, regular sized bricks are 75 cents. Over twice the predicted cost.

So depending on whether or not I can locate some cheaper bricks or not, this project is still pending.

My questions are....

Do you have one of these or have you ever used one?
How big should I be making this? The design I have made is easily made with a grilling surface of 4 square feet with 410 bricks. 5.3 square feet with 450 bricks. Or 7 square feet with 515 bricks. Which would be the best to have? Is bigger better?

Is there anywhere I should look other than Home Depot for bricks for cheaper? I was actually liking the idea of double wide bricks which are twice the price but also half the work for me.

Other than that, should I make it with red bricks or grey bricks?
 
#2
I want to do the same thing, but I have to wait until I get some landscaping done first.

Have you looked at concrete blocks instead of bricks? I have been thinking about using them along with QuikWall, I'm not sure yet.

http://www.quikrete.com/diy/QUIKWALLSurface-BondingCement.html

It gives a nice stucco finish, you might be able to dye it to whatever color you want.

The one I'm planning on making would have a side chamber to burn the wood to coals, which I could then shovel over to the BBQ side.
 
#3
The price of building materials has soared in the past year. Katrina reconstruction and continued strong demand in China are causing serious global shortages of cement, plywood, roofing tiles, copper and PVC pipes, drainage tile, etc. I wouldn't be at all surprised if even bricks are on the list.

Do you know any building or landscaping contractors? There are tons out where my folks live and they often have good deals on brick and stone--or at least know where you can get them wholesale. 500 bricks is probably a quarter of a pallet-load, so you may be able to buy a lot that size from a garden/building supply wholesaler.

In any case, Home Despot can't possibly be the cheapest. Giant chains like that rarely offer the best price on any one individual item.
 
#6
Down around our neck of the woods there are demolition
contractors that take down houses and recycle materials.

I would look for used bricks. You may have to knock off
old mortar and clean them up, but often they will have much
more character than new.

A quick yellow pages search yielded this guy,

Bulldog Demolition
902-892-2855

Give them a call and ask him if they handle this.
If not, ask him who does locally.
 
#10
Well, it seems aboot the going price.

I checked with Jimmy in Metro Building supplies in
Charlottetown and he was .79 each. 20 dollar delivery charge
and 500 bricks per pallet.

The idea of using concrete block you should revisit. You
could then face the grill with brick and cap it as well.

And talk to any family friends that may be contractors familiar
with demolition in their trade. Or see if you can get a friend
to get you the contractors discount, that can run from 10-20%.

BTW, I think it is nice you are thinking of this project.
You must have a great Dad.
 
#12
Actually the inside will be coated. Such as Mr. Bobby Vila does in this video...

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Thanks though! I'll be sure to take pictures of the finished products for you guys. I bet you famous musicians have these and burn vintage tele's in them and use the charcoal from them to cook their tele steaks!

Mine is a completely different design than the one in the video, but using the same method.

Edit: I just noticed that this design is only a single brick wide, should I do it that way or two bricks wide like I had planned?
 
#16
It is actually a lot better than the old ferry, where you had to
wait for hours in the parking lot.

I thought they made a BIG mistake making it only 2 lanes.
When a car breaks down, you are screwed. If it was 3,
it could be bypassed. I don't think it would have cost that
much more.

And I think the ferry was just as expensive if not more.
 
#17
Well there is area to pull over on each side, as well as the tow truck that is at either side available 24/7 and cameras every 50 feet or so. It's very efficient when people break down. They wanted it harder for people to pull over and take pictures mid bridge since it's illegal is all.

It's wierd you guys know anything about my little area, there are people in Canada that don't even know what PEI is :s
 
#18
Well, I am in the fish business.
PEI produces a bit of lobster, and farmed mussels
that have ended up down here.

There has been a fair amount of consolidation in that industry,
and canned lobster meat as a commodity has taken a
back seat to fresh lobser sales via airfreight leading to a big'ole
plant in Summerside taking a huge financial hit.

McCain's also has a large presence up there, there are lots
of potato fields, especially out west. And French Fry production and processing
is big.

I took the kids on vacation up there 10 years ago, we stayed
at Brackley Beach and took daytrips around the island.

The obligatory "Anne of Green Gables' play in Charlottetown
and the house tour was included. Once was enough.

It is a pretty nice place to live imho. :)
 
#19
Important update. I just spent 430 dollars on bricks and concrete.

Now for a very important question. For the grill I'm thinking of using the grill off of a bass cab (I think that'd be sweet) so I need to know if that would be safe or not, and also need recommendations for which company to order the grill from!

The grill needs to be at least 42.5" long and 17" wide, the only one I noticed that fits that description so far is off the Mesa Powerhouse 810, so I might go with that.

Any other ideas for cool grills are welcome too.
 
#20
I wouldn't use a grill like that. You are going to be cooking FOOD on it, and chemicals could leach out of the paint since it's not food quality and will getting very hot.

Get a good stainless grill or a porcelain coated one, just like you'd find in a commercially available grill.

You've spent $430, don't skimp out now. Do it right.
 

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