Built in BBQ Grill - How to Design and Plan Your Own

Imagine cooking some juicy steaks on your own built in BBQ grill. Sure it will take a lot of work and a good chunk of change, but it will definitely be worth it. Building you own backyard BBQ grill can be a daunting task, but with a little planning it will be a great project with excellent returns. Before you begin digging and building you will need to do some careful planning. Deciding how the grill will look and what functionality you need are the most difficult and important parts of this entire project. As part of the design you will need to decide what design to use and how to customize it to fit your style. Before you begin construction it is imperative to choose what grill insert you will use.

Built in BBQ Plans can be purchased from a variety of online vendors or at a local home improvement store and can be fairly expensive. You can design your own grill using one of two methods: pencil and paper or with computer design software. I recommend starting with the pencil and paper until you have a good idea where you are going, then move into the digital world. There are a variety of design software packages available at many price levels. When I designed my backyard BBQ grill I used Google SketchUp, a free software package that is easy to use.

There are three basic designs to start with. You can customize them once you have decided on a basic design. The first design is a simple island. It can be as long and deep as you like, but the minimum size is really six feet long by two and a half feet deep. The second design is an L. A bar extends perpendicular to the island. This allows for a bit more counter space. The third design adds another bar on the other side of the island forming a U design.

The space that you have for the outdoor kitchen will dictate which design you use. If you are limited on space you will probably need to choose the simple bar design; if you have a large space available you may opt for the U Design. Once you have chosen a starting design you can customize it to fit your style.

After you have chosen the design and dimensions of your grill you will need to decide how you want it to look. There are a variety of facades to choose from including stucco, rock, and traditional brick. Counters need to be a weather resistant durable material both tile and stone work well. If you will install cabinets under the countertop choose a wood that weathers well such as cedar or redwood.

The final and most important choice you will have to make when designing your built in BBQ grill is what type of grill insert to use. If you will use charcoal you can just brick in a grate and start cooking. If you like the taste of charcoal but want the look of stainless steel you can purchase a charcoal stainless steel grill insert, but it will cost you quite a bit of money. Because of convenience and cooking style most will choose a gas grill insert. They come in a variety of sizes and models.

When choosing a grill insert remember the following tips. I know that you will want to purchase the largest and most powerful model available, but it is not necessary. Think about the amount of food that you will be cooking at one time. If you have a small to medium sized family and don't entertain large gatherings as 400 to 500 square inch model ought to work well. Make sure to have the insert handy when construction begins to ensure a proper fit.

Following the steps outlined above when planning and designing your backyard kitchen will ensure that your built in BBQ grill will fit your style and needs.