| A patio or sheltered area of your backyard or garden | | | | have one, they'll all be round! A good-sized barbecue |
| can be the perfect setting for a permanent | | | | will allow you to cater for a large outdoor party. |
| barbecue. Not only does it provide an additional | | | | Some people design their barbecues so they can also |
| method of cooking 'al fresco', but it can also create | | | | serve as an incinerator for burning leaves. Build your |
| extra storage for garden tools, etc. | | | | barbecue to fit standard sized metal grill racks so |
| Portable barbecues can be purchased from many | | | | they can be easily replaced. |
| stores, but don't always look very attractive in situ | | | | Locating your Barbecue |
| on a permanent basis. A cheap and simple alternative | | | | Never construct a barbecue directly under a tree, |
| is to build your own barbecue. This enables you to | | | | which may become scorched if the heat gets too |
| incorporate your own ideas. According to the space | | | | intense. Trees may also attract a variety of insects |
| you have available, you can design a sensible | | | | which could also be a problem. Position your barbecue |
| preparation and serving area to suit your | | | | away from dividing walls or fences so that you do |
| requirements. Once you have a stable base to work | | | | not bother your neighbours with noise and smoke. |
| from, it's possible to carefully stack your bricks and | | | | Don't position it too close to your house -- smoke |
| inlay the grill and tray, even without using cement. | | | | and cooking smells may filter in. |
| For the more advanced handyman, storage | | | | Adding Lighting |
| cupboards can be included. | | | | Using an electricity supply from the house, install it to |
| Designing a Barbecue | | | | a sealed weatherproof socket on the patio. This will |
| Position a barbecue so that there is easy to access | | | | enable you to install lighting for the barbecue. Pretty |
| to your house and to any seating area. Do not place | | | | alternatives to using mains power are garden candles |
| it centrally on a patio where young children play; it's | | | | or oil lanterns, Ensure however, that they are |
| better to position it with the back to a wall. If you | | | | securely positioned and do not pose a danger to |
| are unsure of the stability of your patio, first lay a | | | | children (or inebriated adults!). To avoid potential |
| concrete plinth to form a base. It generally pays to | | | | dangers, bury an electrical cable underground. If this is |
| build your barbecue a little larger than you think it | | | | not possible, run the cable along an outside wall; do |
| should be. When your friends and family know you | | | | not string it along a fence or hedge. |