Build your own barbeque

Over half of our respondents in a recent newsletter poll decided that barbecuing was their favourite summer pastime. And when the weather is right, there's nothing that heralds the summer quite like the barbecue.

You may want to pop down to the local shops for a BBQ grill but for a greater sense of achievement try out this day long project of building a simple but stylish brick barbecue for a fraction of the cost!

What you need:

• Barbeque grill set (you can get these from Argos, B&Q or any other home retailer)
• Bricks, brick setts, sand, cement
• Spirit level, shovel and trowel
• Paving slab
• Length of hosepipe cut in half or a brick jointer

Step 1:

Work out how high you need your BBQ so that you can use it comfortably by stacking them up to waist height. Ten or eleven courses of bricks is about average height.

Step 2:

Dry lay out the first level of bricks using the grill tray as a guide for the width of the left hand section. Make an "m" shape with the bricks so that there is section for the cooking tray and a work area next to it. Keep as many bricks whole as possible to avoid having to cut bricks down to size.

Step 3:

Create a mortar mix of five parts sand to one part cement, adding enough water to make a stiff consistency. Make sure that the site is level with the spirit level before spreading the first layer of mortar. Make sure that the layer of mortar is as smooth and level as possible but topping patches up and levelling off.

Step 4:

Use the spirit level to mark out the outer edge of the barbeque wall in the mortar layer. This will ensure that you have a straight edge. When you have laid the first course, make sure that the edges are straight and the bricks are at right angles on the corners. Finally, check the level again.

Step 5:

On the first course, use a metal tie to connect the inner wall to the longer back wall and give the structure extra support.

Step 6:

Next, start on the other courses of bricks, beginning at the far corners. Stagger the joints alternately to the width of half a brick and check with the spirit level to make sure that each corner is vertically straight. Check all angles to ensure that the structure is square.

Step 7:

After you have completed five courses, use a length of wood and the spirit level to check that the two sides are even.

Step 8:

Build up to seven courses and then on the left-hand and inner wall turn the bricks side-on to create a ledge for the charcoal tray. Create a flush edge by using a half brick at the outer edge. Do the same again at 10 courses to create the grill tray support.

Step 9:

Once you have built the barbeque to the desired height, use the rounded length of hose-pipe to draw off the mortar from the joints. This will give a more professional finish. Create a neat edge with brick setts, then for the final time check the level.

Step 10:

You are now ready to concrete the paving slab onto the right hand side creating your work surface.