Built-in Grills
Would you like to have a beautiful built-in grill in your home garden? Without a doubt they are the best for meetings with friends. However, are you sure a built-in is what you need? Why not get to know them a little more before making the purchase?
Best built-in grills on the market
Types of construction grills
Before you think about buying a built-in barbecue, do you know that there are two types? There are those that have a hood, or bell, and those that don’t. Each one covers a series of needs. However, what are the differences between them?
- Grill with hood: These channel the air better, which helps to create better combustion and the conduction of smoke. In addition, the sparks that may be generated can be better controlled. They turn out to be quite practical, as the smoke does not billow directly into your face, but on the other hand, these are usually more aesthetically beautiful and with more defined finishes.
- Grill without hood: Sometimes, it helps to have a better view of the food you’re cooking. Grills with no barriers give you a clear view of your food, so you don’t have to wonder whether it’s cooking too fast or too slow. However, you’ll have to put up with billowing smoke in your face which can be annoying.
What advantages does this type of built-in grill offer you?
Surely you have already looked at several projects to build a built-in grill. But are the advantages it offers just what you need? Get to know them!
- Their main advantage is their size; you have some freedom to build it in a shape and design you like.
- Since they are made of brick, stone or clay, they are usually more durable than coal or gas models.
- They are quite easy to use, since they will always be assembled and ready to make a barbecue.
- Due to their large size, a lot of food can be cooked at once, for when your guest list is on the longer side.
- They do not require much maintenance and are easy to clean.
- For combustion, charcoal or firewood is used, so you will have the same fuel as in a charcoal grill, but in a much more durable apparatus.
- They can be integrated into the environment if they are made with the same materials as those of the house.
How to know if a built-in barbecue is for you
Having a grill is the ultimate dream of every cookout lover. Now, are you sure you wouldn’t be better off buying another style? This is what you have to take into account before buying a built-in barbecue!
- Space: It is true that there are small built-in grills, but their larger size is what maximizes their full potential. If you have a large garden, or a lot of land, there’s no need to worry. But if your space is small, you may want to look at other options.
- Budget: No, don’t worry. Today, construction grills are quite inexpensive. You will easily find models that are around $60 to $90, but they are very basic. A high-end built-in grill can cost more than $1,000, but, once assembled, you’ll have a grill for life.
- Use: When thinking about buying a built-in grill, think about where and how often you like to have barbecues. Do you prefer to do them at home or go to the country and do it there with friends? Remember that these grills are fixed and cannot be moved.
- Style: Once you have decided whether you want a built-in grill with a hood or without a hood, it’s time to choose the style. There are two models: modern and vintage. The retro style is an exact representation of early 20th century grills, but with the comforts of modern technologies. The modern ones have a more striking aesthetic.
What will be the best location for your built-in grill?
The great advantage of mobile grills is that you can move it wherever you want, until you find the most suitable spot. You can also switch it out with a newer model whenever you need to. But that won’t be the case with a built-in grill. So, in this case you will have to think a lot about where you are going to install it.
You should avoid at all costs anywhere too near your home’s doors or windows. If your grill includes a hood, that will help send the fumes skyward. But what if you buy one without a hood? All those fumes can end up inside your house, which is a real pain.
Nor should it be installed near the area where your guests eat. It is true that it the smell of your food wafting from the grill can be pleasing, but not so much the smoke. Also avoid building it near a pool area. The floor of the grill area should be tile, to prevent any potential sparks from causing fires.
I want to paint my grill, is it difficult?
You may not like the color of your new built-in grill, or with the passage of time you may end up getting bored of the color it has. In that case, what can you do? Well, paint it yourself! Painting a built-in grill is very easy, and we are going to explain how to do it step by step:
- Delimit the area you want to paint, using masking tape or a thick tape that allows you to separate the areas you are going to paint.
- To close the pores of the concrete blocks, you will have to apply a fixing primer of water before starting to paint.
- With everything ready, it’s time to paint. For the corners use a thick brush, while using a roller on the larger surface. Thanks to the fixer, the paint will stick.
- You will have to wait until the paint dries before continuing. Once dry, apply a second coat with a special outdoor paint, first with the brush and then with the roller.
- Once the paint is dry, remove the tape and apply a special effect to the concrete of your barbecue. Now it will seem like your barbecue is completely new!
How to clean a built-in grill
It is not necessary to be cleaning the barbecue everyday. In fact, with annual maintenance you can have a kitchen companion for life. Now, it is recommended that you do at least a little maintenance.
To clean it you can use coffee grounds, oil, and newspaper. With the help of a brush, remove all the ashes from the grill. Now, to, clean the area, put down newspapers. Rub the newspapers on the grill with your coffee grounds to eliminate any encrusted fat. The remains will stick to the newspaper.
Finally, use the oil to go over each of the bars of the grill. This will help keep them from rusting. This process will only take you half an hour, and by the end you’ll have a shiny, brand-new-looking grill.
How to make a built-in grill
Although there are companies that can assemble your built-in grill, what if you want to make an authentic homemade grill? You don’t have to be very handy to assemble the grill you’ve bought.
Materials you will need:
- Gloves
- Glue gun
- Palettes
- Drawer
- Cement
- Sand
- Putty (that withstands high temperatures)
Assemble a construction grill step by step:
- Once you have chosen a level and rigid place (the ground should not be loose or very soft), place the base of the grill with a strip. Fix the pieces to the ground using the putty.
- Next, the sink part, the work area, and the grill part must be assembled. Putty is the best to fix it, but join each piece with a little cement as well to guarantee its resistance.
- Wait for the structure to dry a little, then place the grill (remember that your structure must be adapted to the shape of your grill).
- The chimney, the hood, the drain, and the fans remain to be installed. Some models may not have a hood or fans, it all depends on the money you have decided to spend on your built-in grill.