An outdoor barbecue can transform your yard from a span of dirt and grass to an outdoor living space that you can enjoy just as much as you indoor living room. Outdoor barbecue and kitchen areas allow you to entertain more and actually enjoy cooking while outside.
Custom built barbecues were made popular back in the fifties, before mass produced gas and charcoal grills took over the market. Now having that cookout that rolls around isn't the thing to have, and people are reverting back to the built-in, but with more style.
These outdoor kitchens are not just to grill on, you can have sinks, refrigerators, prep boards, and even a wet bar. The trend is really moving towards an extended living area outdoors.
Lately, people have become increasingly interested in building a cookout of their own. Now before you start buying cement and 2 x 4's, you need a good idea of what you want in a backyard cooker.
First decide how much money you are willing to spend. You can spend only a few hundred dollars to spruce up the patio, or you can just as easily spend upwards of ten-thousand dollars.
It really all depends on what you want and what you are willing to spend. Either way, know your budget and what you want and stick with it.
You can build a simple grill or a complex smoker. Decide beforehand whether or not you want something that is a little more than a fire pit or if 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.
You can also sink a lot of money into a gas or electric grill with convection fans, multiple burners, storage cabinets, etc. The truth is that a simple charcoal or wood fired cookout is not 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 cookout 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. However if you want to go with a gas grill set up you should consider 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.
You also need to consider space. If you have a large backyard, you can put a large grill with build-ins. You could even put in a nice seating and eating area.
If you live in condo, however, and you only have a 10 x 10 slab of concrete, you should probably only build a small cookout. You do not want the cooking area to overpower your space in anyway.
Put your barbecue in a place where it will not put other structures in danger from fire, and where it can stay for many years to come. Follow the design of house and yard so that your barbecue will not seem out of place and will fit into its surroundings.
Make your barbecue more than a barbecue. A well-designed cookout will do more than cook food.
Plan on being able to use your outdoor kitchen storage and table space year round. 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. Design your barbecue to make it easy to clean and repair.
You do not want to find out that you need to cut through stone or bricks to replace a part. Finally, enjoy you space and the ability to cook delicious meals in an outdoor grill.
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