Be sure you place it away from overhanging trees, buildings and fences which could be damaged by the smoke or catch fire. [2] X Research source If you are building it on the surface, it should be placed on level ground. [3] X Research source
Rope in a few friends or family members to help, especially if they are quite good with their hands. You can pay them back with grilled meat.
A rectangular shape with sides that reach up to around waist-height is fine. You can add more elements, such as a cooling rack, or a smoker.
A rectangle or square is the easiest shape to use.
You could even make a pit without putting bricks along the sides, but this is a good idea to make it more secure and lasting.
If you don’t do this you should clear away the grass from the edges of the pit for safety reasons. You can spread some gravel, or masonry sand in the base of the pit to so you are not burning wood directly on the soil. [6] X Research source
As always, how many cinder blocks or bricks you need will depend on the size of the pit you want to construct.
You can build them up in a simple regular-sided shape, or try a circle. This might require you to cut the blocks, which will require more tools, like a chisel and hammer.
You will need to leave for around 48 hours to set. It’s also a good idea to have a slight slope so rainwater will run off the concrete rather than collecting on top of it. [11] X Research source
Put bricks in the corners first, and work out from there, removing the excess mortar that is squeezed out from between bricks as you go. [12] X Research source Fill any gaps with excess mortar. Each new layer of bricks should begin with a layer of mortar on top of the previous layer on bricks, which the new bricks are placed onto. Be sure to look at a brick laying tutorial first, if you haven’t done this before.
