Built-in Barbecues....my DIY

I love built in barbecues ... but even buying one at Home Depot is too pricey for my liking.

This Weber barbecue ... pictured below ... runs a cool $2700.

I have to say ... I don't know ... maybe if money was no object I would just

buy stuff like this.  There is this creative ... puzzle solving ... challenge taking ...

person in me ... however ... that just loves to see if I can do it myself.

Here's my patio in the earlier stages.  I had done some updates ...

as you can see ... HERE.

I wanted more ... a I usually do.

I wanted a BUILT- IN BARBECUE!

Soooo ...

I planned ... charted ... measured ... and refigured.

                                          1)     I built a Base out of 2 X 4s ...

                                         2)    Covered them with Cement Board ...

                                          3)    Cut each individual Paver & Slate Tile ...

                                                                 ***425 pieces in all***

                                          4)     Mixed the Mortar Sticky Stuff ... 

                                                                *** by hand ....that's the technical term***

                                           5)    Attached all 425 Tile Pieces on the Base ...

                                                               ***after figuring where they all went***

                                           6)    Applied the Grout.

Voila ... easy peasy ... LOL.

The slate tile makes a nice combination with the Mexican Pavers.

Now ... FYI ... the barbecues you buy for "built-ins" cost 

upwards of $700.

I just bought a regular barbecue and took off the side "wings".  They

easily unscrew ... and those start at like $100.

I just rolled that puppy right back into the brick base.

Luckily it fit ... I measured like 3 times.

***I worried later that I should have tested the bbq before cementing it in...just in case***

I also adapted a regular size barbecue cover ... cut the wings off again ...

sewed her up.  Works great!

While I was at it ...

I added a buffet.  Same bat time ... same bat channel.

I made the buffet hollow and added a door.

Now I use this 12 foot space for storage.

Remind me to tell you tomorrow how much figuring all these slate pieces took.

 So there you have it.  

Unfortunately I have to pictures of the actual construction ...

but suffice it to say it was a rather big undertaking.

Tomorrow ... I'll be posting some of the problems  I faced ...

and some of the things I learned.

But for now ...

I think I like mine better ... but I'm a bit prejudiced.

But you guys decide.

Things are now looking soooo much better.

Why do I take on these humongous projects?

Maybe cuz mine only cost like $400... not $2700.

Well that's one thing.....

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