Barbecuing is widely popular, hence the myriad of different offers for fireplace construction. This ranges from the simplest tin structures through prefabricated units to the most durable constructions such as the clinker brick barbecue.
Clinker brick barbecue. Which brick for the barbecue?
The construction of the barbecue is not fundamentally different from that of other brick constructions – walls, posts or other landscaping elements, hence the use of perforated bricks bonded using a clinker mortar with trass is sufficient. The finials of the structure are finished either with perforated bricks set on a stile or solid bricks laid flat – depending on the design and the author’s vision.
The body of the grill can take many forms. Circular or rectangular constructions work well, and if you want to develop a corner of the plot, a triangular barbecue will fit in perfectly. However, before bricklaying commences, it is worthwhile to find out in advance about the availability and dimensions of the grids and select the dimensions of the structure according to them. This avoids the need for reworking and cutting steel bars.
The essential components of any barbecue are the hearth and the grate. For a simple hearth, it is advisable to use prefabricated precast concrete elements, the edges of which can be finished with bricks or clinker tiles. If you want something more finesse, you can make a hearth vault based on an arch – all you need for this is a brick, mortar and a formwork made of flexible MDF or OSB bent into the right shape.
A good and worthy solution to consider is to line the hearth with a thin (2-3 cm thick) chamotte tile, which has the highest temperature resistance of all commonly available building materials. Should this part of the barbecue need to be replaced in the future, it will only be necessary to replace this cladding without interfering with the structure itself.
The grate is best made or ordered ready-made from acid-resistant steel bars. It is a type of stainless steel containing nickel and chromium in its composition, which makes it resistant to the aggressive acid environment and the corrosion it causes (other varieties of stainless steel can corrode in this environment).
As far as color is concerned, due to the smoke, soot, ash, and grease splatters that accompany barbecuing, it is advisable to choose dark-colored bricks – bricks with slags and smelts for which such an environment seems natural would be ideal.
